Introduction
This article provides a summary of the outcomes of a recent MSOR mini project to further develop TalkMaths. The TalkMaths project was initiated by the first author in order to use speech recognition to perform specialist tasks such as entering or modifying mathematical equations. This resulted in an application that provides a speech-driven user interface for creating and editing mathematical expressions. Prior to this MSOR mini project, the latest version of the software was implemented in the scripting language Python and required Dragon NaturallySpeaking (DNS) Version 10 to be installed on the user’s own machine (this second requirement is still the case). The interface between TalkMaths and DNS was realised using a free software library called NatLink.
The initial main goal of this project was to remove the dependency of TalkMaths on the NatLink library in order to improve the ease of installation and prevent potential future software compatibility problems. This goal has been achieved. In fact, beyond just creating a desktop application as planned, we have created a web-based application that is available for free use at http://www.TalkMaths.org. This web application cooperates with a speech front-end we have written using the DNS Speech Development Kit (SDK). It can accept input either by speech or using the keyboard and mouse.
Introduction This article provides a summary of the outcomes of a recent MSOR mini project to further develop TalkMaths. The TalkMaths project was initiated by the first author in order to use speech recognition to perform specialist tasks such as entering or modifying mathematical equations. This resulted in an application that provides a speech-driven user interface for creating and editing mathematical expressions. Prior to this MSOR mini project, the latest version of the software was implemented in the scripting language Python and required Dragon NaturallySpeaking (DNS) Version 10 to be installed on the user’s own machine (this second requirement is still the case). The interface between TalkMaths and DNS was realised using a free software library called NatLink. The initial main goal of this project was to remove the dependency of TalkMaths on the NatLink library in order to improve the ease of installation and prevent potential future software compatibility problems. This goal has been achieved. In fact, beyond just creating a desktop application as planned, we have created a web-based application that is available for free use at http://www.TalkMaths.org. This web application cooperates with a speech front-end we have written using the DNS Speech Development Kit (SDK). It can accept input either by speech or using the keyboard and mouse.
