The Case for Speech and Language Technologies for Developing Regions

Many  ICT  initiatives  that  attempt  to  connect  end-users  to  each  other   rely   on   Internet-connected   PCs   using   graphical   user   interfaces (GUIs). While speech-based systems over the telephone have  mushroomed  in  the  West  in  the  past  decade,  their  potential  remains  largely  untapped  for  use  in  the  developing  world.  We  present   reasons   why   speech   systems   may   be   preferable   to   traditional PC/GUI systems in these circumstances, along with the needs such systems can fulfill