Prompting the User
.jpg) |
Prompts are text that a voice-only application speaks to the user. Prompts serve a number of functions in an application.
- Ask the user a question. For example, "From which city do you wish to depart?"
- Greet the user. For example, "How may I help you?"
- Provide information to the user. For example, "This flight serves dinner."
- Direct the user to take specific action. For example, "Press three on your telephone keypad."
Prompts are the only interface that a voice-only application has with the user. Multimodal applications do not use prompts, because they interact with the user using on-screen text and controls.
Prompt Elements in a Voice-only Application
Each prompt project contains one or more prompt databases. A prompt database contains all the audio and data that define the application's prompts. A voice-only application solution contains references to one or more prompt databases:
- Transcriptions that contain the words to be spoken by the application
- Audio recordings of transcription text
- Alignment data that define where words start and end within recorded audio
- Extraction data that enables an application to form new sentences by mixing and matching parts of recorded audio
Prompt Tools
Speech Prompt Editor, included in the Microsoft Speech Application SDK Version 1.1 (SASDK), provides an interface for creating prompts. Use Speech Prompt Editor to create and maintain every aspect of a prompt database:
- Create transcriptions
- Record audio data for each transcription
- Edit audio data
- Create extractions
- Tune word alignments
Prompt functions contain JScript code that allows an application to generate dynamic prompts at run time. Use Prompt Function Editor to create and edit prompt functions.
For More Information
| To | See |
|---|---|
| Get more information on designing effective prompts. | Designing Prompts |
| Get more information on using prompt databases. | Using Prompt Databases |
| Get more information on creating prompt projects. | Managing Prompt Projects |
| Get more information on entering transcriptions for prompt recordings. | Entering Transcriptions |
| Get more information on recording prompt transcriptions. | Recording Transcriptions |
| Get more information on using Wave Editor to tune alignments and extractions. | Tuning Alignments and Extractions |
| Get more information on writing functions that generate prompts. | Creating Prompt Functions |
| Get more information on verifying prompt coverage. | Validating Prompts |
| Get more information on building prompt projects. | Managing Prompt Databases |
| Get tips to consider when using the Speech Prompt Editor. | Speech Prompt Editor Tips |
| Get more information on troubleshooting prompts. | Troubleshooting Resources |