Platform-Independent Real-Time Speech Technology

Odin's Raven writes "Opera Software's R-and-D department today announced the discovery of a new technology dubbed 'Opera SoundWave' - a platform-independent speech solution for short- and medium-range interpersonal communication. Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pending P2P speech technology uses analogue signals carried through open air, enabling users to communicate in real- time without the use of computers or mobile phones. Details (including link to tech preview) are available in their press release. I wonder how long it will be before a FOSS implementation of this technology emerges?"

April Fool's...

[DeafDumbBlind]

It's a joke

Re:April Fool's...

[REggert]

No, really?

Re:April Fool's...

[aldousd666]

you're certainly not being sarcastic.

Re:April Fool's...

[programmermatt]

Slashdot: News For Nerds. Stuff that Matters. But don't expect crap on April first!

Re:April Fool's...

[nomadic]

It's not a joke. Jokes are supposed to be funny.

Re:April Fool's...

[Peyna]

Jokes are supposed to be funny, April Fool's jokes are not.

Re:April Fool's...

[wernercd]

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/41942.html [technewsworld.com] Good article on this April Fools joke.

Re:April Fool's...

[MyLongNickName]

My Submission 'Slashdotter gets laid' was rejected. CmdrTaco explained that no one would believe it.

Re:April Fool's...

[kiddailey]

At least that would have been funny!

Re:April Fool's...

[MyLongNickName]

Yes. Doesn't he send you personal e-mails too? I'm still waiting for his annual Christmas card like my friends get.

Wrong...

[TiggertheMad]

It's a joke

No it isn't. Jokes are funny.

Re:April Fool's...

[faitzy]

Here I am sitting reading slashdot thinking that the jokes are over as it's well past noon (yah know it's bad luck for April fool's jokes past noon). But wait... it's only past noon in EST zone; we've got over 4 hours till some geek on a science vessel somewhere in the middle of the pacific frantically types out his post to Slashdot "gotta get in the last joke... gotta get in the last joke"

Got a frog in your pocket?

[A nonymous Coward]

we're geeks, can't we make a sophisticated April's Fools trickery?

We? What you mean by we, kemo sabe?

Or maybe you're just saving your special talents for another year.

Voice?

[BMazurek]

Sounds like talking (short range) or yelling (mid-range) to me...

*sigh* When will this all end?

Re:Voice?

[maotx]

*sigh* When will this all end?

Tomorrow?

Re:Voice?

[AndroidCat]

Don't complain too much. The year they did dupes all day long was worse.

Re:Voice?

[Flendon]

Don't worry. Next year you will only have to put up with dupes of all of this years jokes.

What'll they think of next?

[Limburgher]

VOIP-over-sneakernet?

Re:What'll they think of next?

[DarkMantle]

Then it would be VOSN wouldn't it?

Re:What'll they think of next?

[GileadGreene]

No, it would still be VOIP - assuming of course that you actually used the IP in your Sneakernet transactions. Sneakernet merely provides the physical and datalink layers.

Re:What'll they think of next?

[cyclopropene]

VOIP-over-sneakernet?

I think IPOV would be the logical extension in this case...

Re:What'll they think of next?

[corngrower]

Is this related to long hall communications?

Re:What'll they think of next?

[hobbesx]

VOIP-over-snerkernet?

Can't wait 'til my deskmate gets my e-mail about this!

Re:HEY!!!

[DjMd]

You were offended by...
×]u

Re:HEY!!!

[DjMd]

Now I can see being mad about
"zero, one, one, zero, zero, one, one, zero, zero, one, one, one, zero, one, zero, one"


Thems fighting words ^H^H^H^H^H err letters...

That's nothing.

[FlyByPC]

I'm working on a platform-independent speech-to-text system, complete with OCR technology. It's all based on a massively parallel implementation of biotech.

Re:That's nothing.

[GuardianAngus]

In almost all cases, such efforts have only been successful as collaborative efforts - A typical generalization for the Slashdot crowd member is that we work alone, by choice or circumstance, in such matters. Perhaps it is just that you are new here.

Either way, I wish you the best in your efforts.

Re:That's nothing.

[Ironsides]

I'm working on a platform-independent speech-to-text system, complete with OCR technology. It's all based on a massively parallel implementation of biotech.

So where did you get the million monkeys from?

Re:That's nothing.

[zarr]

It's all based on a massively parallel implementation of biotech.

I once did something similar, using a genetic algorightm to evolve a neural network. It didn't work very well though...

Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pending

[oliverthered]

Oh how I with there was a GPL for standards.

I hope this isn't another, 'people use translators to talk to each other' so lets patent people use 'electronic' translators to talk to each other.

Re: Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pendin

[saintp]

My GOD, man! If the calendar didn't tip you off, the last 10 stories should have.

I swear, the people who consistently fail to get the jokes are even more annoying than the constant jokes.

Slashdot, you are really pushing

[simgod]

it too far with this 1. April... :(

Re:Slashdot, you are really pushing

[ChaosCube]

Lighten up a little. Situations we are faced with every day are, for the most part: total crap, a waste of time, not worth stessing over, useless, and total crap.

Since our lives are filled with so much uselessness, realize that most of what goes on truly does not matter and laugh at things. You'll see your life getting better almost immediately.

This is getting stupid...

[tyroneking]

...I mean how many more april fools jokes do we have to put up with? Who the hell are Opera?

Re:This is getting stupid...

[ChaosCube]

You, ma'am, are a truly sad individual if you cannot appreciate some simple humor. Did you actually read the article? It is quite obviously rediculous, but entertaining anyway.

Let go of your stress, ma'am, as it clearly holds you prisoner.

Cat got your tongue? (something important seems...

[null etc.]

"Opera Software's R-and-D department today announced the discovery of a new technology dubbed 'Opera SoundWave' - a platform-independent speech solution for short - and medium-range interpersonal communication.

How can someone "discover" a new technology that they actual developed? It's not like discovering a new element or planet.

Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pending P2P speech technology uses analogue signals carried through open air, enabling users to communicate in real- time without the us

Re:Cat got your tongue? (something important seems

[ShadeEagle]

I claim prior art more prior than yours. My Grandma's been using this method since the early 1920s.

Re:Cat got your tongue? (something important seems

[sumdumass]

well i have the binary prior art locked up too. just the other day my wife an i reverted to this special technoligy to discus how much it was going to takle to fix the car. she replied 1100.

Re:Cat got your tongue? (something important seems

[TheJavaGuy]

How can someone "discover" a new technology that they actual developed? It's not like discovering a new element or planet.

The new SoundWave technology was accidentally discovered during an R&D study to speech-enable Opera's e-mail client. One of Opera's desktop developers needed to find an alternative way to relay a message to his colleague at a time when the e-mail server was down, and was startled to notice that his verbal outcry was intercepted and understood immediately.

Remembrance

[Klivian]

This actually reminds me of first time I saw e-mail in use. We was doing a small programming part in a project (high school level, back in 89 or so:-) and need verification of some details concerning the protocol on a signal stream from a radar installation. Our teacher wrote and sent a mail asking, and about 2 minutes later we heard the one he mailed to yelling "Yes" from down the other end of the corridor. I recall I was rather impressed by this new technology at the time:-)

Re:Cat got your tongue? (something important seems

[null etc.]

The new SoundWave technology was accidentally discovered

I hate to split hairs, but a technology cannot be discovered. A phenomenon can be discovered, and technology can implement that phenomenon, but unless you're discovering a technological implementation made by someone else, it's not discovery.

Enough already

[int19h]

Let's call it a day.

Re:Enough already

[jez9999]

"April Fools'"?

Re:Enough already

[smooth wombat]

How about:

The Feast of Maximum Occupancy

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

At least make it Believable.

[sglider]

Come on guys, now you are just wasting bandwidth.

Thank you King Canute

[jfengel]

You can shout at the waves but they're not turning back. Give up for another twelve hours and come back tomorrow.

At least this year they're linking to other people's jokes. A few years ago they did the deliberate dup gag and tell me THAT didn't get old fast.

Re:At least make it Believable.

[youknowmewell]

Not really. Have you seen the amount of comments for the last few news items? Have you seen the amount of moderation going on?

Use whisper mode

[marcus]

They say that it uses the least bandwidth. However it only works over short distances and requires a good signal to noise ratio.

OTOH, in addition to needing little bandwidth, it is also secure against all forms of "Man in the Middle" attacks without needing to resort to private key technologies.

Another exciting form that is currently under test for the conventional vocalization mode is a range extending technology that consists of a resonating cavity at each node with the cavities attached together by a

Patent Pending?

[deutschemonte]

On Human to Human speech?

I would laugh if I didn't think a corporation has probably already tried to patent this.

Re:Patent Pending?-SEX.

[TheRaven64]

Just be glad no one's tried to patent Sex.

Oh, like that would affect the Slashdot crowd.

Sounds like M$ has a case for prior art

[eviloverlordx]

I seem to remember The Balmer talking about MS Speech '90 a few years back. Sounds like a lawsuit to me.

Well then . . . .

[failure-man]

I'd better patent "writing documents without the assistance of electronic devices" and "interpersonal communication without the use of vibrations in a gaseous medium." Proving prior art on these would be more trouble than it'd be worth . . . .

a related project

[FidelCatsro]

I was reading up on a company called sutech who had developed a short range communications transfer technology powerd by Dead plant matter .
It involves superheating the matter and using a blanketing system to shape the output

Re:a related project

[Anonymous Coward]

Hahah I get it now .. Smoke signals
Thats all we need , another april fools joke

Re:a related project

[AndroidCat]

I'm working of this idea for sending signals across the galaxy. It involves modulating inhabited planets with a large space station. So far the project is stalled with the problem that the planet modulations tend to be "one shot". Also, the signal is usually received as millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror rather than the pin-drop we were aiming for.

Re:a related project

[FidelCatsro]

The main problem i can see with this project is the so called "proton torpedo" effect which ports some exhaust design feedback issues, more than just being one shot , the space station will tend to explode in on itself after sending the inital shot , This tends to have some long term effects like the BOH and carbonite han problem and ussualy some empirocal damage .
the worst of these problems though tends to be the "phantom menace effect" which is belived to be a coruption of the space time continuum , bas

Gather ye Rosebuds

[Mrs. Grundy]

Well opera should enjoy this discovery while they can. I predict in a matter of moments they will be getting the cease and desist letter from Microsoft who patented this technology in the 70s.

Re:Gather ye Rosebuds

[deutschemonte]

When was Microsoft founded again?

Done!

[UWC]

It's taken me all morning, but I think I've managed to reverse engineer Opera's implementation using common room-temperature air at approximately 1 atmosphere.

I'll release it under the GPL. And I'll call it something catchy and commercially respectable, like Gnuvoc. Nah, that'll never work. Maybe Goice or Galk. Businesses everywhere will be Galking it up by year's end.

I don't mind the April Fool's Stuff

[stlhawkeye]

I mind that none of it is clever or funny. Much like this post.

Keep the articles coming..

[hass]

I love April Fools Day!

You know it's only a matter of time before ....

[KSobby]

You know it's only a matter of time before some idiot comes along and figures out a way to amplify the signal and then start spamming us from a "soapbox" (TM - patent pending) with this crap.

Look at todays date

[Zaai]

Hahaha, nice one :)

Incopatiblity issues

[mochman]

I tried using this once with the opposite sex. Who would have known she incorporated the Slap [handshigh.com] interface. Ouch.

Re:Incopatiblity issues

[game kid]

Unfortunately our Fairer Sex SDK, while freely available, can only be fully experienced by licensed customers. Our proprietary Slap interface secures Fairer Sex and protects our intellectual property rights, to ensure that our trusted licensees can enjoy their experience.

Consider buying a commercial license [adiamondisforever.com] today, or see the development platforms available to our subscribers [eharmony.com].

--Dr. Neil Clark Warren

Ugh...

[lcde]

So. Just like typical slashot, there are a bunch of drones prawling the internet looking for stories. Grabbing anything that will get their names on the front page.

Re:Ugh...

[lcde]

hehe... cute AC.

It will be abused, no doubt about it

[lildogie]

Before long, the analog air waves will be clogged with sex-related content. And advertising.

I didn't read the RTFA, but

[ajlitt]

...can someone tell me what this SPEECH thing is? And why should I care? Sheesh, you people think everyone's heard of this terminology, but you're wrong.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

come on...

[evoltap]

I turned on my computer, looked at /., saw this article, was intrigued, read the article.....and got totally played......you guys need to jump start your sense of humor! I didn't remember it was april freakin fools.....i kept waiting like an idiot for them to explain how the hell it worked.

Re:come on...

[SkjeggApe]

You obviously didn't try the demo:

Soundwave Demo [opera.com]

Long time coming

[mr_z_beeblebrox]

I wonder how long it will be before a FOSS implementation of this technology emerges?

Since most FOSS developers lack "wetware" (stole that word I did) peers it will continue in its current proprietary state.

Re:Long time coming

[SmokeHalo]

(stole that word I did)

Hmm, English like Yoda you speak. :)

Re:Long time coming

[renehollan]

Oh, did they forget to patent the "Directional Organic Transducer?". There may be hope for a FOSS implementation then, necessary for this to work. I'll start on the "Movable Organic Universal Text Handler", or MOUTH, right away. Look for a Sourceforge project soon, and contribute!

I just patented...

[Tablizer]

...stupid April Fool's e-jokes. Slashdot now owes me royalty payments :-)

Tunneling

[timlewis_atlanta]

You can overcome the 100 foot limitation by tunneling it over traditional phone lines, or even VOIP lines, although you may require a speakerphone at the other end. Another tunneling option might be this http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1149.txt [ietf.org], but I suspect there may be some latency issues.

Another way to increase the distance

[corngrower]

Here's a link to a device that can extend the range of communication. http://www.califone.com/product_info.php?cPath=40& products_id=99 [califone.com]

Oooh! OOOOOH! *DROOL* *STUMBLE* *GASP*

[rawyin]

I hope they release the patent so everyone can use it! Oh this is so exciting.

And here I've been throwing pieces of paper at my co-workers for years with little messages put on them. I wonder if I can patent that too.

i knew it was fake

[captainwinky79]

cause Opera supposedly made it. Only thing I've seen from them recently are ads embedded in their browser and a bad April fools joke.

Wow...

[revery]

I'm speechless...

Re:Wow...

[corngrower]

I'm speechless...

It appears that they've still got a bug or two to work out with this system.

What next?

[slickwillie]

Geez, the next thing you know those wizards will invent some way to send speech over some kind of electromagnetic gizmo for long distances. Then comes the music and other stuff. Then comes the rightwing nutcase talk shows. Where will it all end?

Sounds fine to me

[Balaurul]

The technical aspects seem to be sound and well spoken. But, I have my doubts. Anyway, What is today's date? ;)

The un funny bit is...

[NoMercy]

When the US Pattent office grants the pattent on it to Opera :/

What use is this to technologists?

[Gax]

It's a nice idea, but I can't see any practical implementations. Like many computer users, I avoid conversation by sending an e-mail or IM to people sitting across the room.

This just in!

[MHobbit]

Slashdot has been taken over by a band of rabid monkeys in a successful coup d'etat attempt! Slashdot will now be a place where monkey pr0n will run rampant!

And on other news, Microsoft has turned its back on commercial software, and is making Windows open-source!

Wait! There's actually something funny here!

[Parity]

At first it looks like just another tired
April Fool's press release, but if you click
through to the demo...

SoundWave Demo

For a demo of SoundWave, Opera's P2P real-time voice technology, simply ask someone in your vicinity the following question:
"What is today's date?"

I found that refreshing, and worthy of a smile and
a small snerk. That's more humor than anything else
posted today has had!

--Parity None

Discovered...

[TheJavaGuy]

The new SoundWave technology was accidentally discovered during an R&D study to speech-enable Opera's e-mail client. One of Opera's desktop developers needed to find an alternative way to relay a message to his colleague at a time when the e-mail server was down, and was startled to notice that his verbal outcry was intercepted and understood immediately. (From the press release).

And in related news...

[projectVORTEX]

"Opera Computer Techs Discover Outside"
Opera's computer technicians made an amazing discovery today -- they learned that there actually exists an outside world beyond the one they know and inhabit. This outside world has blue skies with white fluffy clouds and green grass (ignoring the pavement, cars, etc.)

This one was actually funny

[rve]

Slashdot just makes them annoying by posting about a dozen such stories on one page every year

I, for one...

[Brazilian Joe]

...welcome our new analog signals carried through open air Platform-Independent Real-Time Speech Technology overlords...

That sounds like microsoft practice

[noamsml]

opera would take it from somewhere else, make it more famous, wait until it is implemented in every possible browser, and then claim they invented it.

Any one of these articles would have been cute...

[Sethseekstruth]

but all day nothing but jokes strikes me as overkill

I can't wait till

[Some_Llama]

they develop an interface for "non-standard" communication protocols so I can understand what the hell george bush is trying to say....

it's not platform-independent

[kryptik_79]

I was very disappointed when I tested this new technology under the "Quebec" platform...

Although it appeared to be working properly on my end, the "Quebec" technologies where somehow incompatible.

I have seen a similar project

[ShivasEye]

I am sure I have seen something similar, and it had a much better title than Opera Soundwave.. It was the Global Open Source Shared Independent Platform Evocation and Responder [answers.com]

Re:Anouncement

[selfdiscipline]

sweet, succulent jesus!