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Training Course Summary:

VoiceXML is a development language that allows the creation of Voice-enabled commerce applications, featuring audio dialogues using synthesised speech, digitised audio, recognition of speech and DTMF key input, recording of spoken input, telephony control, and mixed-initiative conversations.

VoiceXML is the centre of a rapidly-expanding industry that brings the benefits of web-based development and content delivery systems to interactive voice response applications.

Pre-Requisites:

Prior to attending the course, delegates should have a solid understanding of Web-based application development, ideally including experience in Java Server Pages. Prior experience developing XML applications is also helpful.

Who Should Attend:

The course is also designed to help IT professionals prepare for the official VoiceXML Developer Certification exam, the industry-recognised vendor-neutral qualification for VoiceXML developers. The exam can be taken at Thomson Prometric testing centres world-wide.

Training Course Overview/Content:

Core Concepts
The history and background to VoiceXML
Understanding linguistics and phonetics
Understanding speech technology
Processing Telephony and Speech signals
Defining a VoiceXML architecture


Introduction to VoiceXML
XML rules and syntax
Playing pre-recorded audio files
Controlling TTS output using SSML (Speech Synthesis MArkup Language)
Creating touch-tone and voice menus
Processing forms-based input
Handling events and errors
Creating directed speech dialogues
Recording speech input
Performing call transfers
Introduction to the IBM WebSphere Voice Toolkit and the Bevocal Cafe hosting platform


Creating Speech Recognition Grammars
Using built-in VoiceXML grammars
Introduction to SRGS (Speech Recognition Grammar Specification) using XML and ABNF formats
Using and creating re-usable sub-grammars
Procedures for testing grammars
Developing and testing grammars in IBM WebSphere Voice Toolkit
Writing mixed-initiative grammars
Designing natural language grammars
Tuning grammars for maximum accuracy

Best Practices for Speech Application Development
The speech design process
Human factors in voice design
Best practices for VUI Design
Maintaining a speech IVR
Best practices for voice dialogue testing

Evaluating and Selecting VoiceXML Platforms
Components of a VoiceXML gateway
Defining the requirements of a speech IVR
Vendor selection criteria
Evaluating sample configurations


Advanced Topics
Subdialogues and RDCs (Reusable Dialogue Components)
Advanced call control using CCXML
Refining your application using properties
The use of shadow variables
Using confidence and n-best recognition scores to fine-tune an application

Dynamic Applications
Introduction to dynamic VoiceXML applications in JSP
Generating dynamic dialogues
Generating dynamic grammars from a database