Socio-Cultural Communication System--a Communication Mechanism For Multi-Media Information Access System for Non-Literate and Linguistically Diverse Users

Abstract

Current Internet services are not optimal for the access of information for non-literate or linguistically diverse users. Almost all Internet content is available only in written form and still in a limited number of languages. However, there is a growing need to provide network services to non-literate or linguistically diverse users. The Socio-cultural communication system (SoCCS) is a communication mechanism for building an information access system that helps both literate and non-literate users to access information in various media formats. SoCCS is designed using client server architecture, isolating much of the logic from the client. This helps the client run on a basic system of a very low end configuration with an application based on a web-browser. The client will send the text/image/audio/video request to the request interpreter (RI) and it will then process the request and respond with text, image, audio, or video link information. Audio/video is streamed using a streaming server. This helps in reducing the play delay on the client side with a low bandwidth. RI will handle the request in text/image/audio using text-to-text, text-to-speech and speech-to-text translators. RI will also handle the client's preference on the response i.e., the client can choose to get the response in a text/image/audio/video format. The SoCCS application protocol of the current design project is based on a request-response mechanism without any limitations on the natural language, client software and hardware requirements, and the type of request. SoCCS will accept a text or audio request and respond to the user with a text or an audio message. The unique SoCCS features are providing the conversion from one language to another language, from one format to another format and consider user preferences for displaying search results. In this thesis, a prototype implementation of SoCCS is also discussed.