The VoiceXML Handbook

by Bob Edgar

VoiceXML combines the power of the Internet with the flexibility of voice, using the telephone as the access point to the Internet. XML is replacing HMTL as the state of the art for enabling customers... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1578200849
• ISBN13: 9781578200849
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Cmp
• Length: 481 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An indispensable "how to" reference

In The VoiceXML Handbook: Understanding And Building The Phone-Enabled Web, computer telephony expert Bob Edgar takes the reader through a step-by-step introduction through all the features of VoiceXML (including VoiceXML 2.0). Readers will learn about Graphical Web Browsing, HTML, and HTTP; Telecommunications; Computer Telephony; Voice Recognition and Text-to-Speech; and XML. Also provided are a VoiceXML Tutorial and instructions on using Voice Browsers to crated Phone-Enabled Web Sites. The VoiceXML Handbook is an indispensable "how to" reference for anyone who needs to enhance their website with telephony-enabled technology and ability.

An Excellent Overview

I am director of user interface design at Audiopoint in Fairfax, Virginia -- a voice portal/voice technology company. I work mostly in human factors, not programming. This book is exactly what I've been looking for, because it gives, I feel, an excellent overview of the many kinds of systems, software, and hardware that are involved in the work I do. I agree with another reviewer, who said that the author clearly states that not all the examples will work in every case, for various reasons. The great plus for me is that, even though my training is not for the most part in technology, I could still understand the book. The author takes you, usually, from the very beginning, and gives you the big, simple picture, which is crucial to have fixed firmly in your mind. This book is making it much easier for me to understand our IT people and talk with techies, and visualize various products which I'd like to see our company launch. So I give this book top rating....

Great Book!

I love this book - although not a programmer, per se, I found this book to be very useful from the aspect of explaining what Voice XML is all about. It gives the basics presented in a manner that can be understood by almost anyone. On top of that, the author makes learning XML a joy - yes that is possible!The author writes in an easy to read style that provides clear explanations and simple examples. But what impressed me most about the book were the code examples provided throughout the book to help illustrate each concept. They made it much easier to grasp the information presented. Since I'm just starting out with XML, I feel very lucky to have this book on as a desktop reference since the author seems to cover it all: how the Web works, how telecom and computer telephony work, XML, voice browsers. Not to mention the step-by-step instruction provided throughout the book. I also take exception to the review by Horsepower in which he criticizes the book. The author did plainly state in the preface that there would no doubt be errors in the examples and gave a web site where the readers to go to find corrections and updates to the book.

Visionary!

Bob Edgar's VoiceXML Handbook is truely visionary! Digital Voice Technologies (dvtinc.com) purchased a copy before we began our VoiceXML 2.0 Interpreter project and within the first week of reading this book, we decided to purchase 20 copies of it for our development team. Because of Bob Edgar's book, DVT was able to build and deploy our VoiceXML 2.0 Interpreter before the VoiceXML 2.0 specs were ever released!Digital Voice Technologies considers Bob's book a five star reference tool and feels that it will be a best-seller as more people learn of VXML. Imagine a World Powered by Voice...DVT!

The Best VoiceXML Reference Available

Although this book has only been published for a few weeks, I have already purchased 20 copies and am using it for my VoiceXML classes. It is a very readable, very thorough, and accurate overview of this new technology, VoiceXML. The technology itself is destined to forever change the way we interact with the World Wide Web, and this book will certainly facilitate the process.