Effective Citizen Engagement For
Economic & Social Development
Using Voice Internet:
Internet for Everyone
WSIS e-GOV Forum, March 13,
2010, Geneva
corporate@internetspeech.com
The Need for e-GOV
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Make Government services hassle-free, faster,
cheaper, more inclusive and “at citizens
doorsteps”.
Bring efficiency, effectiveness, transparency
and accountability to administration.
Enable people’s voice in decision making.
Minimize corruption.
The Need for e-GOV
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Aligned with MDGs
More Needed for Developing Countries
(poverty, high population density, large Digital Divide,..)
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Also needed in the developed world
(some Section of people are poor / deprived..)
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Hence e-GOV Needed for All
Current Limitations
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Need to have a computer or similar device
Large Digital Divide
Large Language Divide
Not Affordable by many
Overcoming these limitations is the Key
The Need

Information is ‘Money’.

Largest source of information is the
Internet.

Internet should be for Everyone
(Educational, Economic, Social Development)
The Problem / Opportunity

Internet Access is Very Limited
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Only 14% of Global Phone Users have Internet
550M connected computers vrs Over 5B phones
Barrier to Access
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Lack of computer or computer skills
Access through a personal device is very limited, difficult,
visual, needs to be literate, and expensive
Many modes of Mobile Access not practical with visual
display: car; walking, ..
Computers or PDAs CANNOT Totally Bridge the Digital Divide
& CANNOT Bring up the Bottom of The Pyramid
Solution: Paradigm Shift – Voice
Internet
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Internet
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netECHO
Software (IA)
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Speech
Recognition
Text to Speech
Any Phone
Automation is the KEY
Intelligent Agent
(IA)
Mediates between user
and the Internet
Retrieves and
“Renders” text on ANY
site without site or
content modification
Renders to Short,
precise, meaningful,
easily navigable and
pleasant to listen to.
The Core Technology
Internet
Internet Interface
Downloading
Understanding
Intelligent Agent
User Interface
TTS
(3rd party)
Intelligent Agent(IA)
Automates Interaction
With the Internet.
Phone
Interface
Translating
SR
(3rd Party)
IA “Renders” text from
ANY site
without any site
modification
Surf
Music/Radio
A-Browse
e-commerce
e-mail
Search
netECHO System Architecture
How Rendering Works?
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Automatically Determines key Information of the page:
Page Highlights
Uses similar algorithms that our eyes and brain uses in
selecting key information of a page
Uses the information already available on the page (e.g.
bold, font size, content density, links,..) to determine the
Page Highlights
Uses matching techniques, semantic analysis and
language processing to determine relevant contents on
the linked pages
Value Proposition

Access to the entire Internet by any phone, anytime,
anywhere (including in a car) without using a computer
(Bridges Digital and Language Divide – Help Bottom of
the Pyramid)

Serves as a profitable value-add service for
ISP’s,Telco’s and Wireless providers
Allows Businesses and Governments to voice-enable
websites and applications with > 5X savings in both
development and maintenance cost
[Moving today’s Standalone IVR to Web Based IVR]
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Significantly Eases Accessibility
Company Vision and Mission
Vision
Provide natural voice-based interaction with
the Internet, computers and electronic
appliances.
Mission
Provide Internet Access to Anyone, Anytime,
Anywhere Using Any Phone
Company Background

A Technology Company with Very Good Technology and
Product Roadmap, founded in 1999.
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Developed the world’s only “True” voice-Internet technology.
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Patented Technology
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Several patents
broad claims resulting Very High Entry Barriers
Founder holds 13 patents from prior works
Market Introduction
 First release in Nov’ 02, Current version 5.3
 In Commercial Operation over 5 years with Paying Customers

Multiple Languages & Applications
Key Customers / Partners
Service Providers
(Telcos/ISPs/Resellers)
Businesses/Govt.
(SI /Enterprises/Org.)
iWebTalk
MIMOS (Malaysian Govt)
TecAccess
UN
Henan Mobile (Pilot)
Lighthouse
MTNL
RiOS Institute, UC Berkeley
OCCAM (UNESCO)
13
Key Applications
General Services
Applications:
Custom Services
Applications:
NOW:
Voice Internet Service
e-Learning, e-Health,
e-Gov, e-Farming., e-comm.
SOON:
MicroBrowser
e-Entertainment, Banking,
Travel, CRM, Automotive …
VoIP using PSTN or Mobile
Handling Emergency
Situation
14
E-Gov Applications Undertaken
Accessing Public Records (Birth
Records, Land Related Forms,..)
 College/Uni. Admission / Results
 Job Service / Application
 Train Schedule, Ticketing
 Bill Payment
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Voice Internet Availability
US
 Canada
 India
 Thailand (soon)
 China (soon)
 African Countries, Europe, S.
America (in the near future)
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Users: Digital Divide, Elderly, Highly
Mobile, Disable People
How User’s Are Using?
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Information Retrieval and Avoiding
Loneliness
Key Features Used are
 Email
 Surfing
 Searching
 Streaming
Audio
 Horoscopes, Weather, Stock Quotes
How User’s Are Using?
(Attractive Features in Asia)
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E-Learning (English learning, non formal and
some formal courses)
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E-Gov. (public records, bill payment, …)
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E-Health (basic health info., patient record,..)
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E-Farming (basic farming info., pricing info. ,
help selling,..)
Current & Future Products
Current Offerings
 English - v5.3
 Japanese - v4.0
 Chinese - v3.0
 German - v2.0
Open Interface for System
Integrators
 Several Business Applications
 Banking, Travel, Flight
Information
 Voice Shopping Mall
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Future Offerings
Spanish, Indian, European and
other Languages
 v-Commerce Module
 MicroBrowser
 Voice Computer
 Semantic Web / Web3.0 Support
 Natural Language Proc. (NLP)
 User Interface
 Question & Answer System
 netTalk: Phone to VoIP
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Business Strategy & Model
Enable Voice/Audio Internet Infrastructure
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Deploy the Technology through channel partners:
Service Providers (ISPs, Carriers), Voice Portals,
System Integrators, VARs, VAS, Software
Companies, UN, NGOs, Govt. Organizations, …
Bridge the Digital and Language Divides
Voice Enable Business and Govt. Applications
Maintain High Barrier of Entry by Broad
Methodology Patents, New Products and Market
Leadership
Use Licensing, Rev sharing, Combination & ASP
Let Bottom of the Pyramid Drive
World Economic and Social
Developments
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Providing Voice Internet bridges the
Digital and Language Divides
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Voice Internet also helps Education
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Education in turn helps Innovation and
Entrepreneurship
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Innovation and Entrepreneurship in turn
drive Economy
Let Bottom of the Pyramid Drive
World Economic and Social
Developments
 Use
the Brain Power of the Bottom of
the Pyramid for Local & Global
Development
 They
may be poor BUT their Brain
Powers Are Not
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Well Aligned with MDGs
Use Voice Internet and Grow Your Citizen
Engagement & Business
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Higher ROI – Both Financial & Social
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Growing Market
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Multiple Market Segments
 Very
High Entry Barrier
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Many Applications and Products
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Help Economic, Social, Cultural Developments
 Win-Win
Business Relationship