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While the use of automated kiosks for information services delivery is increasing, many people still prefer person to person communication, either because the technology is too complicated or because the human/machine interface is too inflexible for their needs. The aim of the MASK (Multi-modal Multimedia Automated Service Kiosk) project is to overcome this deficiency, using multimedia input/output techniques to offer a more flexible, user-oriented human interface.
The MASK kiosk allows users to make queries via either natural language or a touch-screen menu, and can respond using voice synthesis, graphics or text output, according to individual requirements. The speech recognition capability is based on a real-time software system that is speaker-independent and can recognise more than 1,500 words, including almost 600 station names. The system can understand human natural language use, taking account of user hesitations and even able to recognise individual speakers.
The initial application is supplying rail services information for SNCF, the French national railway operator. For SNCF the main objectives of the project are a reduced time to complete ticketing transactions, increased rate of take-up of services and a subsequent increase in the number of services offered. Once proven, the kiosk has potential applications throughout commerce and industry, including shops, offices, banks and tourism centres.
The MASK interactive kiosk at EITC 97 is demonstrating how the combined technologies of speech recognition, touch screens, multimedia, video and audio are now mature enough for use in operational information and sales systems. The kiosk has information on the timetables of intercity trains, descriptions of SNCF commercial offers and fare prices, as well as simulated delivery of tickets.
Contact: Jean-Noel TEMEM, SNCF (F)
tel +33 1 5342 9253 - fax +33 1 5342 9314 - jean-noel.temem@sncf.fr
This document is located at /esprit/src/exhib32.htm
It was last updated on 22 October 1997, and is maintained by the EITC 97 Secretariat - eitc97@dg3.cec.be