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(Hong Kong, 10 November 2008) With gradually addressing the needs for the
blinds, visually impaired and elderly to listen from the web, the web-to-speech
HanVOICE technology developed by KanHan Technologies Limited has assisted
the ChengDu City Government to boast the first speech version in China's
e-government following the foot step of China Disabled Person's Federation
(CDPF). The speech section automatically translates live Chinese text into
Putonghua speech using human sounding text-to-speech technology. No special
software required, users can navigate the voice website. The new voice-based
web section of the ChengDu City Government aims to build a digital inclusive
society especially for the visually impaired, elderly and cognitive dysfunctional
persons.
HanVOICE is a locally developed technology partially funded by Government's
SERAP funding scheme and has won various awards for its innovation in
bridging the digital divide. The best known ones were the China nomination
to compete in United Nation's World Summit Award in 2005 and the Asia
Pacific APICTA award in 2004.
More than a web technology, the HanPHONE telephony interface turns a
website into an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS). Since 2003,
many government departments and associations have adopted HanVOICE/HanPHONE
integrated technology for IVRS applications which include:
ˇEHong Kong Society for the Blind - digital library system (done in 2005)
& email to voice (done in 2008)
ˇEHong Kong Post - Leave Balance Enquiry
ˇEHospital Authority - Outpatient Booking System (over 500 telephone lines)
ˇEPamela Yonde Nethersole Hospital - Outpatient Booking System
ˇEHousing Authority - Rent Enquiry System for public housing estates
ˇELeisure & Cultural Services Department - Main enquiry hotline line
ˇECentral & Regional Libraries - Main enquiry hotline
ˇELabor Department - Employee Compensation Hotline
ˇESocial Welfare Department - Main service hotline
ˇECensus & Statistics Department - Quarterly Survey of Employment and
Vacancies
ˇETransport Department - Traffic Condition Enquiry
ˇEHong Kong Export Credit Insurance - Main enquiry hotline
ˇEHKU Space - self-development for various IVR applications
ˇEUniversity of Science & Technology - self development for various
IVR applications
ˇEChinese University - Student Fees Enquiry
Looking forward, 2009 will see more government departments in Mainland
China intend to make voice enabling technology a nation-wide web access
policy. Users can now "hear" from the web content without information
boundaries using a standard web browser or via telephone.
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