Multimodal Tools Project for Eclipse
An entry-level, lightweight package for Web developers who want to add multimodal capability to their applications.
Date Posted: January 10, 2006
|
|
 |
|
|
What is Multimodal Tools Project for Eclipse® 3.1?
Multimodal technology provides multiple methods of communication between the user and a device. These methods include keypad, touch or tap screen, handwriting recognition, and voice recognition. Motorola, Opera Software ASA, and IBM submitted to the W3C® a proposal for a multimodal mark-up language standard called XHTML+Voice (X+V for short) that provides a way of creating multimodal Web applications (that is, Web applications that provide both a voice and visual interface).
The Multimodal Tools Project is an Eclipse-based tool designed to extend Eclipse's Voice Tools Project in order to support and speed the building of multimodal (X+V) Web applications. The content of multimodal applications specifies the presentation and interactions in both visual and voice modes. In most cases, users can choose the most efficient input method when using their mobile devices, which might have limited input, output, and display capabilities. The tool helps developers to create and validate their X+V content.
Unlike Mulitmodal Toolkit for Rational Web Developer, the Multimodal Tools Project provides an entry level of multimodal capability without requiring the IBM Rational Web Develper suite. It targets those customers who are either unable or unwilling (because of costs or hardware requirements) to migrate to IBM enterprise tools.
How does it work? The Multimodal Tools Project consists of a set of Eclipse plug-ins built on top of Eclipse 3.1, Web Tools Platform Project 0.7, and Voice Tools Project M1 (which are the only requirements for the plug-ins).
The plug-ins include an editor for XHTML+Voice (X+V for short) and a multimodal browser launching configuration. The editor supports color highlighting, content assistance, and content validation. The application grammar can be created using a Voice Tool Project's wizard. Once a developer has finished developing the application, the multimodal browser can be launched directly within the tool.
The plug-ins also include the XHTML+Voice Programmer's Guide, which contains examples for each of the X+V elements.
|
|
|
| | About the technology author(s):
Soonthorn Ativanichayaphong is an advisory software engineer in the IBM Pervasive Computing Division, Boca Raton, FL. He has worked with IBM for over six years. Mr. Ativanichayaphong is one of the leading technical contributors for the Multimodal Browser development group. Previously, he worked on the first two releases of the Voice Toolkit for WebSphere Studio product, where he was responsible for the grammar editor component. Mr. Ativanichayaphong was also a key member of IBM's original multimodal browser development team, having worked on the architecture for both Voice In WAP Out (VIWO) and See What I Say (SWIS). He received a master's degree in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida.
David Jaramillo is a senior software engineer with Embedded Voice Solutions Development in the IBM Software Group, Boca Raton, Florida. He has worked with IBM for over 15 years. His current assignment is technical lead for the Multimodal Development group and customer advocate and "evangelist" for Multimodal Speech Development. Mr. Jaramillo has worked on the Embedded ViaVoice development teams in the areas of telematics and hand-held devices for various embedded platforms and operating systems. Previously, Mr. Jaramillo was one of the leading software engineers in the development of multiple releases of the OS/2 operating system. He received a master's degree in computer science from Florida Atlantic University.
|
|
|
| |
