Year

Guest editor

Theme

Conversational AI, the next step

It promises to be a very engaging issue.

PS. some background can be found here.

Language and Speech Technology - Big Models

For the 2022 edition, we have chosen the following theme: TST & Big Models. Big language and speech models as found on Huggingface are starting to have an increasing influence on our field, mainly because they are easy to implement and often produce amazingly good results. In this DIXIT, we will cover how these models are created, how transformers work and the fine-tuning of models. But above all, we will highlight all kinds of domains in language and speech in which these models are used, when they can be used successfully and when not. And further also what the danger of biases in the models is, and their ecological footprint.

Conversational AI

Language and Speech Technology and Understanding

Language and Speech Technology and Healthcare

The theme we want to address (again) in this issue is the importance of Language and Speech Technology for healthcare. Rapidly improving TST is playing an increasingly relevant role in our society (think Google Assistant, SIRI, Alexa, Customer Contact Centres, and many, many more). But especially in healthcare, TST can add great value for people for whom, due to mental and/or physical imperfections, life is difficult. Think of an emphatic robot that helps people in care facilities, of a talking interface that allows visually impaired people to operate devices. A lot is happening in this field, which is why it was decided to give it renewed attention.

Language and Speech Technology in Sight.

For several years NOTaS has been working on the topic of TST for people with visual impairments. A number of examples are listed on the NOTaS website. Together with the Dutch Language Union, NOTaS was heavily involved in setting up the ongoing exhibition "Krijg jij het inzicht" in 2016. A catalyst for our involvement in the theme is, of course, our NOTaS participant Dedicon. In June 2017, there were contributions from NOTaS partners to the "Better Together" conference organised by Dedicon. There are still close contacts with the muZIEum, Visio and Bartiméus. In short, there was a great network and enough material for a great new themed issue of DIXIT.

AI and Language and Speech Technology

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly becoming a "commodity". Devices, software, services: you can find the term AI everywhere. But what exactly is it and to what extent is it used in language and speech technology applications such as automatic speech recognition, speech synthesis and automatic translation. What can be done with AI and what are its "dangers".

We will try to shed more light on this in the 2017 DIXIT.

Robots and Language and Speech Technology.

What is the current state of robots in the world and in the Netherlands and how do we deal with them? Should we be afraid of it or should we embrace this revolution and together as a society set the rules for it? This is a much debated topic. It is therefore not surprising that this edition of DIXIT is about this.

Language and Speech Technology (TST) in the world of children.

All around us, we see that children are increasingly confronted with ICT. It concerns not only their social lives, which are now filled with Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Snapchat and other social media; we also see it in their school education, where progress, homework and grade lists are mostly only available digitally. ICT is also increasingly used in education itself; both curriculum and test papers are increasingly offered digitally and students can e-mail their theses to the teacher. Going one step further are the so-called iPad schools where paper seems to be completely banned.

Mobile Apps and Language and Speech Technology

On the use of Language and speech technology in the apps you have on your mobile phone and/or tablet. This DIXIT contains articles on the various issues that can be involved in creating, devising and maintaining such an app.

Expats in Language and Speech Technology

This edition of DIXIT focuses on the opportunities that the study of language and speech technology can bring and, in particular, the application of the acquired knowledge in developing a successful career outside the borders of one's home country. Several TST expats were asked for their views on the opportunities and challenges that come with the life of a TST expat. For this purpose, foreign TSTs were approached for whom the Netherlands has now become 'home sweet home'. Dorota Iskra, for example, tells how she, a native of Poland, contributes to the TST business here in the Netherlands. Conversely, a Dutchman like Edgar Meij gives an insight into his fascinating career at Yahoo in Barcelona.

Big Data and TST

Language and Speech Technology in Company

Language and Speech Technology for Cultural Heritage

Language and Speech Technology for the Government

STEVIN and Education

TST voor de Overheid
november 2009

STEVIN en Onderwijs
november 2008