An architecture and applications for speech-based accessibility systems

Speech can be an efficient and natural means for communication between humans and computers. The development of speech applications requires techniques, methodology, and development tools capable of flexible and adaptive interaction, taking into account the needs of different users and different environments. In this paper, we discuss how the needs of different user groups can be supported by using novel architectural solutions. We present the Jaspis speech application architecture, which introduces a new paradigm for adaptive applications and has been released as open-source software to assist in practical application development. To illustrate how the architecture supports adaptive interaction and accessibility, we present several applications that are based on the Jaspis architecture, including multilingual e-mail systems, timetable systems, and guidance systems.