The Speech Recognition API (SRAPI) Committee announces the release of SRAPI
Version 1.0 for Windows NT and Windows 95

OREM, UTAH -- MAY 6, 1996 -- The Speech Recognition API Committee announces
the release of SRAPI Version 1.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT.

The SRAPI Committee also announces that OpenDoc, the CORBA distributed
component facility, will support SRAPI compliant extensions, allowing for
expanding speech technologies to multiple platforms.

The SRAPI Committee is currently chaired by Novell, Inc. Core members
include: IBM, Dragon Systems, Intel, Lernout & Hauspie, Kurzweil AI and
Philips. Other contributors to the standards effort include: Voice Pilot
Technologies, Kolvox, Interactive Products, Centigram, Berkeley Speech
Technologies, Voice Processing Corp., Speech Technology Laboratories (a
division of Panasonic) and other notable companies in the speech
industry.

The mission of the SRAPI Committee is to provide an easy path for
applications to integrate speech recognition and speech synthesis
technology. SRAPI 1.0 is the first step in the process of making speech
technology readily available to application developers across different
operating environments. The future intention of the SRAPI Committee is to
also release the API standard for OS/2, Java, NetWare and Unix platforms.

The SRAPI specification is a cross-platform specification that creates a
standard method for applications to interact with speech technology
providers. The API supports Continuous Command Technology, Phrase
Recognition Technology, Discrete and Continuous Dictation technology and
Speech Synthesis.

The OpenDoc technology helps to further achieve the SRAPI mission by
enabling the creation of SRAPI-ready application components. An
application can easily gain access to the speech recognition API by
incorporating the SRAPI OpenDoc component. Along with other facilities of
the CORBA standard, SRAPI can participate in any distributed cross-
platform application with minimal programming effort. Richard Grant of
Voice Pilot Technologies, Inc. states that his firm is prepared to produce
SRAPI compliant OpenDoc parts for all OpenDoc enabled platforms.

The SRAPI Committee is dedicated to providing open solutions to application
developers. As an open solution provider, SRAPI will continue to work with
various standards organizations to provide solutions for developers. The
Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum (ECTF) and the SRAPI Committee have
agreed to a common grammar specification to describe command vocabularies.
Also, a translation layer will be provided for Microsoft SAPI. An ECTF
compliant version of SRAPI is targeted for release later this year.

SRAPI Version 1.0 includes a development environment for application and
service providers. The SRAPI DLL is available to application and speech
technology developers with a royalty free license.

The SRAPI Developers Kit, also produced by the SRAPI Committee, is targeted
for speech technology service providers and application developers.
Libraries, sample code, documentation, and other tools are available for
the following development environments: Visual C++ 2.2, 4.0, Borland C++
4.5 and Watcom 10.5.

"The SRAPI Committee has produced a strong specification. Novell is very
pleased to be involved in a leadership role in this speech standardization
effort. Cross-platform standards, such as SRAPI, are strategic to Novell's
long term commitment to providing solutions to our users," said Alvin
Tedjamulia, Vice president and General Manager of the Advanced Technology
Division at Novell.

"Speech is emerging as an important part of the future human interface.
Practical, useful, efficient speech recognition in the market place is
dependent upon a strong standards effort like SRAPI. By continuing their
efforts with the OMG CORBA standards, we are seeing a winning
combination," said John Slitz, Vice President of Object Technology
Marketing at IBM.

"Philips has identified high market demand for a common, standardized API
that simplifies the work of application developers. It will give a strong
motivation to integrate speech recognition into applications. Philips will
support SRAPI in future versions of its continuous speech recognition
system" said Wolfgang Schattgen, Executive Vice President of Marketing and
Sales for Philips Dictation Systems - Speech Processing Division.

For more information regarding this SRAPI release and information on
joining the SRAPI effort, please visit the SRAPI home page at
http://www.srapi.com, or e-mail queries to srapi@srapi.com.

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Q: HOW DOES SRAPI COMPARE TO THE MICROSOFT SAPI SPECIFICATION?

A: The SRAPI effort began independently of the Microsoft specification, and
though there is some functionality overlap between the two APIs, the SRAPI
Committee does not intend to enter an API contest with Microsoft. The
goals of the two efforts vary significantly. While SRAPI is targeted as a
cross-platform solution, the MS SAPI supports only the Windows platform.

Q: WHY DOES SRAPI FOCUS ON A CROSS-PLATFORM SOLUTION INSTEAD OF JUST
WINDOWS?

A: With the surge of cross-platform application development on the
Internet, the SRAPI Committee feels strongly that multiple platforms will
continue to play an increasingly important role in providing solutions to
users. The telephony environment has particularly strong followings in
Unix, OS/2 and NetWare. SRAPI, along with OpenDoc will offer solutions to
developers regardless of their operating environment.

Q: NOVELL CHAIRS THE SRAPI COMMITTEE, YET DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY SPEECH
RECOGNITION OR SYNTHESIS TECHNOLOGY. WHY IS NOVELL DRIVING THIS EFFORT
FORWARD?

A: Novell is committed to making solutions easier to use. Speech technology
will play an expanding role in that effort. By promoting and supporting
industry standards in speech, Novell is enabling developers# efforts to
humanize technology making it easier for people to use. Novell intends to
make use of SRAPI compliant technology in future product releases.

Q: DOES SRAPI SUPPORT TELEPHONY?

A: All SRAPI functionality allows for the specification of an audio channel
allowing basic telephony integration. Telephony is a significant part in
our future direction, and will look to the ECTF for our detailed telephony
design. We are extremely pleased with the working relationship we have
with ECTF, and look forward to continued collaboration.

Q: DO YOU HAVE TO USE OPENDOC TO DEVELOP SRAPI APPLICATIONS?

A: No. The SRAPI Committee is very pleased to work with OpenDoc, and help
provide speech solutions for OpenDoc developers. However, SRAPI is
targeted for use by developers from various platforms. Windows 95 and
Windows NT developers can write SRAPI compliant applications today, with
support for other platforms, including OpenDoc targeted for release in the
near future.
 
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