An Internet search engine, using voice-recognition software, a microphone, and speakers, has been developed by researchers at Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev in Beersheva. The system, which conducts searches in response to spoken instructions rather than words keyed in as text, operates on any personal computer.
Called Maestro—a suitable name because it brings various elements together—it will initially be used as a research tool by Dr. Meirav Taieb-Maimon of BGU’s Department of Information Systems Engineering for a study on road accidents.
The project integrates a wide variety of programming components, including a Microsoft module for voice recognition and others for communicating with various search engines via Web services, as well as text clustering.
It is flexible enough to allow searches based on either ordinary keywords or questions. One can change the type of search engine, set limits for the number of results, and adjust the sound. All this can be done without any programming experience.
For further information, please contact
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beersheva 84105, Israel; Tel: 972-8-646-1111; Web site: www.bgu.ac.il
Inventions & Innovations
