Speech Recognition: Theory and C++ Implementation [Hardcover]

Claudio Becchetti (Author), Lucio Prina Ricotti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 9, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0471977306 | ISBN-13: 978-0471977308

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is the enabling technology for hands-free dictation and voice-triggered computer menus. It is becoming increasingly prevalent in environments such as private telephone exchanges and real-time information services. Speech Recognition introduces the principles of ASR systems, including the theory and implementation issues behind multi-speaker continuous speech recognition. Focusing on the algorithms employed in commercial and laboratory systems, the treatment enables the reader to devise practical solutions for ASR system problems. It addresses in detail C++ programming techniques used to develop ASR applications, thus offering skills that will prove useful in any large C++ based software project. Possible extensions of the well-established ASR technology are highlighted, based on "Hidden Markov Models" applied to fields such as modelling and prediction of econometric series. Features include:
* Accompanying website containing all C++ source code of a complete laboratory multi-speaker continuous-speech ASR system (e.g. Initialisation, Training, Recognition, Evaluation, etc.) www.wiley.com/go/becchetti_speech
* Detailed theoretical, mathematical and technical explanations of ASR
* A practical account of the functioning of ASR
A crucial source of information for researchers, developers and project managers involved with ASR systems, Speech Recognition is also structured for use by students of digital signal processing, speech recognition and C++ programming techniques.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Speech Recognition introduces the principles of ASR systems, including the theory and implementation issues behind multi-speaker continuous speech recognition..." (IEE Signal Processing Magazine, Vol. 18, No.1, January 2001)

From the Back Cover

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is the enabling technology for hands-free dictation and voice-triggered computer menus. It is becoming increasingly prevalent in environments such as private telephone exchanges and real-time information services. Speech Recognition introduces the principles of ASR systems, including the theory and implementation issues behind multi-speaker continuous speech recognition. Focusing on the algorithms employed in commercial and laboratory systems, the treatment enables the reader to devise practical solutions for ASR system problems. It addresses in detail C++ programming techniques used to develop ASR applications, thus offering skills that will prove useful in any large C++ based software project. Possible extensions of the well-established ASR technology are highlighted, based on "Hidden Markov Models" applied to fields such as modelling and prediction of econometric series. Features include:

• Accompanying CD-ROM containing all C++ source code of a complete laboratory multi-speaker continuous-speech ASR system (e.g. Initialisation, Training, Recognition, Evaluation, etc.)
• Detailed theoretical, mathematical and technical explanations of ASR
• A practical account of the functioning of ASR

A crucial source of information for researchers, developers and project managers involved with ASR systems, Speech Recognition is also structured for use by students of digital signal processing, speech recognition and C++ programming techniques.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 428 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (June 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471977306
• ISBN-13: 978-0471977308
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,408,291 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful application-oriented book., August 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Speech Recognition: Theory and C++ Implementation (Hardcover)

This book is very useful for persons willing to implement a speech recognition system based on hidden Markov models (HMM). The authors provide the source code of a complete system. Each chapter is divided in two parts: theory and implementation. Some implementation issues are of interest only for those who develop code in C. I think this implementation-oriented book is a good complement for a theory-oriented book, as "Fundamentals of Speech Recog." by Rabiner and Juang. I really couldn't understand an appendix about "Econometric", that mainly discusses HREH (?) and just mentions HMM in the very end. The references related to this appendix were mixed with the ones related to speech, with an annoying result.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Starter but Confusing., May 30, 2001

By 

Stephen Tenniswood (Detroit MI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Speech Recognition: Theory and C++ Implementation (Hardcover)

I appreciated the balance between theory and implementation in the book. Also the content covers the most important topics. It is unfortunate that the book contains numerous typo's and confusing choices of symbols. The errors are often right in the most critical places too. The explanation of the theory of HMM's for example. 0 and 1 are chosen to represent both white and black balls and 2 different urns all in the same diagram. When trying to sort out which is which the reader will be further confused by blatant errors where a 0 should be a 1. I am afraid many new readers will find frustration on the theory sections.

The choice of C++ and inclusion of a CD-ROM with full source is a nice touch however. Just be aware that the code is not geared for real-time recognition.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Confusing Book, July 27, 2004

By 

Yuval "yuviki" (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Speech Recognition: Theory and C++ Implementation (Hardcover)

For studying the speech recognition subject this is not the right book to buy, It is hard to understand the theory using this book.

The c++ code works but there should be more remarks to make it easier to the readers to get along.

There is a free toolkit to download from the Internet named HTK

that contains full C code and a free book to the same theory so actually it is a waste of money to buy this book !!!