VoiceXML Version 2.0 Jon Pitcherella

What is it? A W3C standard for specifying interactive voice dialogues. Uses a “voice” browser to interpret documents, like HTML would, only in audio format. Commonly used over the public switched telephone network to interact with voice applications.

Who is Involved? Roots in VoiceXML stem from AT&T Labs, Lucent and Motorola. In October, 1998, W3C held a workshop for VoiceXML including: AT&T, Lucent, Motorola, IBM, Microsoft, Sun. Current applications from AT&T, Lucent and Motorola.

How it Works Document server process request from client. Server produces a VoiceXML Document. VoiceXML context is responsible for incoming signals, while the interpreter conducts the dialog Implementation platform generates events, based on user input and is controlled by the VoiceXML interpreter.

Goals Minimizes client/server interactions by specifying multiple interactions per document. Shields application authors from low-level, and platform- specific details. Separates user interaction code (in VoiceXML) from service logic (e.g. CGI scripts). Promotes service portability across implementation platforms. VoiceXML is a common language for content providers, tool providers, and platform providers. Is easy to use for simple interactions, and yet provides language features to support complex dialogs.