ARM Collaborates with Asahi on Speech Recognition Technology
6 March 2000
ARM Collaborates with Asahi on Speech Recognition Technology
CAMBRIDGE, U.K. and TOKYO--March 6, 2000--Powered(TM) Solutions Targeting Telecommunications, Multimedia
and Automotive Applications
ARM (LSE:ARM) and Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (Asahi) today announced they have collaborated to implement Asahi's voice recognition technology for operation with ARM Powered(TM) processors.
Initially developed for automotive applications, Asahi's modular technology provides a flexible speech recognition solution, delivering both speaker-independent (fixed) and speaker-dependent (user-specific) word recognition capability in a wide range of applications. Asahi's product is designed to give high recognition rates in range of adverse noisy environments such as headset microphone or speakerphone.
"The ARM(R) architecture lends itself very well to sophisticated, emerging applications such as voice recognition, which require fast processing speeds and low power consumption," said Makoto Shozakai, chief researcher, Asahi Central Research Laboratories.
"Our decision to work with ARM was also based on the processor's proven interoperability, and because ARM is very active in all the target application areas for our voice recognition software technology."
Asahi's speech recognition technology uses a single core recognition module, which is configured using a library-based approach that offers speaker-dependent and/or speaker-independent capability, with support for one or more languages.
A range of vocabulary sizes is supported, from tens of words for digit speaker verification to hundreds or thousands of words for more sophisticated applications. Modules for English and Japanese will be offered initially, with additional language modules following soon after.
ARM incorporated specific code optimizations that enable efficient implementation of Asahi's voice recognition technology for ARM core-based processors. Real-time name dialing recognition of up to 100 words is possible on an ARM7TDMI(TM) core operating at 20 MHz with a typical mobile phone memory configuration.
Asahi's VORERO voice recognition engine and speech modules can be easily incorporated into a wide range of applications, from telecom (8 kHz sampling frequency) products such as mobile phones to multimedia (11 kHz sampling frequency) products such as automotive applications.
"When combined with the low-power, high-performance ARM processor core, Asahi's technology provides an efficient and cost-effective voice recognition solution for a wide-range of automotive, consumer entertainment, telephony, and wireless applications," said Dave Walsh, Applications Software business unit manager, ARM.
"ARM is committed to providing the broadest range of high-quality applications support for its processor designs. By working in partnership with third party vendors of key applications, we are able to further speed time-to-market for systems developers and OEMs using ARM core-optimized software solutions."
The optimized software is available now for both English and Japanese speech recognition applications based on the ARM architecture. Additional information is available at http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/vorero.
About ARM
ARM, a leading intellectual property (IP) provider, licenses high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals, and system-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system.
ARM's microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming the volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, hand-held computing, multimedia digital consumer and embedded solutions. More information is available at http://www.arm.com
About Asahi
Asahi Chemical is one of Japan's leading companies, with operations ranging from electronics to pharmaceuticals and medical products, chemicals and plastics, fibers and textiles, and housing and construction materials.
Electronics operations are expanding worldwide, with a broad range of leading-edge products including analog-digital mixed signal LSIs based on world-leading analog CMOS technology, Hall sensors, dry film resist for printed circuit boards, and photosensitive polyimide for semiconductor buffer coating. More information is available at www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/asahi/english.
Note to Editors: ARM, Thumb, StrongARM and ARM Powered are registered trademarks of ARM Ltd. ARM7TDMI is a trademark of ARM Ltd. All other brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE:ARM) ; its operating company ARM Ltd.; and the regional subsidiaries ARM, Inc.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.