200 years of speech machines
Posted on 15 March 2000
John Local is a leading expert on language. In his lecture, which is part of Science Week, he will discuss the innovative research at the University of York, which brings together knowledge of language structure and the way the vocal tract works to produce natural sounding synthetic speech.
He will show how we can produce machines and computers that speak. The multi-media presentation will be illustrated with a variety of synthetic voices produced by machines and computers including a demonstration of the extraordinary 1791 synthesiser invented by Wolfgang von Kempelen. John will also be showing some of the kinds of instruments and techniques that are used to gain information about human speech.
The Merchant Adventurers' Science Discovery Lecture is at 7 pm on Tuesday 21 March in the Merchant Adventurers' Hall in Fossgate. Tickets (which are free) can be obtained from Sarah Mitchell in the University's Public Relations Office on telephone 432029 or email slm7@york.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
- These annual lectures are hosted by the Company of Merchant Adventurers in their medieval guildhall in the city and are intended to demonstrate to the general public in York the ground-breaking research undertaken at their local university. The first three lectures were given by Professor Tim Skerry on bones, Professor David Howard on music technology and Professor Dianna Bowles on plants as factories.