A -- RELIABLE OMNI-PRESENT AUTOMATIC RECOGNITION (ROAR)

Notice Date

January 2, 2001

Contracting Office

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

ZIP Code

22203-1714

E-Mail Address

rfi01-03@darpa.mil (rfi01-03@darpa.mil)

Description

Special Notice RFI 01-03: Due February 05, 2001; POC -- LTC James D. Bass, Ph.D., DARPA/ITO; Fax -- (703) 522-7161. In accordance with FAR 35.007(j), the Information Technology Office (ITO), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) requests exploratory information for research and development ideas that would significantly advance the Reliable Omni-present Automatic Recognition (ROAR) technology. Current Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems continue to show difficulty in processing speech in multi-speaker and high noise environments. These systems use acoustic and language models that fail to adapt to changing environmental conditions including such events as ambient noise changes or speaker stress. Even prosodic information is not used in current commercial implementations. The goal of the ROAR Request for Information (RFI) is to challenge the architecture, science, and dogma of the current ASR research community, and to look for high-risk, high yield alternative ideas to current methods and algorithms. ROAR also represents an opportunity to explore new technologies such as eye-gaze tracking, lip reading, vocal fold detection and others not normally associated with a standard ASR suite. DARPA ITO is interested in concepts that will revolutionize current ASR technology and, in particular, exploratory research ideas in the three following technical topic areas: 1) Core Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR): The challenge with all aspects of ASR is to identify research areas/approaches which offer high-risk, high yield automatic speech solutions to overcome problems associated with high noise and/or multi-speaker environments. The potential research ideas, concepts, and approaches sought may include, but are not limited to: modeling for dependency, utilizing hidden pronunciation, building adaptable acoustic models, designing articulatory models, or using prosodic features. Investigators may also submit radically new complete ASR system approaches. 2) Recognition Technology in support of the Meeting Task: Capturing meeting information (the conversations, meeting participants, meeting intent, and conclusions) represents one of the most challenging aspects of automatic recognition faced by the research and engineering community. This RFI seeks to identify a research task (with training and evaluation data), and fundamental research and systems design ideas/approaches that would effectively capture meeting information. Investigators may submit concepts in data collection and standardization for the evaluation which may include a prototype system. 3) Integration of multi-modal technology: Responses to the RFI are intended to identify promising multi-modal technologies (lip readers, eye-gaze, gesture, etc.) and possible integration approaches to expand ASR technology for general-purposes and command and control (C2) systems use. DARPA ITO is interested in research ideas that exploit currently proven systems for integration into innovative multi-modal systems (utilizing more than two modalities). Investigators may submit a complete systems or an integrated ASR suite approach; tackle the data fusion and standardization requirements; address model modality effectiveness for given environmental conditions; or any combination of the above. Concepts, which encourage the use of multi-modal technologies in public and private systems applications, are desirable. Approaches that include functional prototypes are highly encouraged and will enhance potential interest. PROGRAM SCOPE: Candidate research ideas should elucidate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Responses are not limited to the specific strategies listed above and alternative visions are of interest. Responses should address research ideas that substantially contribute towards the goals stated. Submissions enlisting prototype hardware and/or software demonstrating integrated concepts and approaches are encouraged. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice or focuses on a specific system or solution. Integrated solution sets embodying significant technological advances are strongly encouraged over narrowly defined research endeavors. Responses may involve other research groups or industrial cooperation. In addition, advanced ideas on other topics related to those described previously might be of interest to DARPA ITO. Special Consideration: To support the growth of the research community and to stimulate new research in selected areas, DARPA ITO is especially interested in research ideas, approaches and/or concepts that: advance noise-canceling techniques for ASR support at the microphone/sensor level; advance intelligent microphone arrays with the self-directing ability to discriminate noise from speech. GENERAL INFORMATION: This Commerce Business Daily notice, which constitutes the complete RFI package, is not a Request for Proposals (RFP), and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals nor will any award be made as a result of this synopsis. The Government is not interested in specific company capability information and will not entertain such submissions. Any costs incurred as a result of responding to this announcement shall be borne by the respondent and cannot be charged to the Government for reimbursement. All information contained in the RFI is preliminary, as well as subject to modification, and is in no way binding on the Government. As a result of ideas submitted in response to this RFI, DARPA will acknowledge receipt of the submission, but will not provide feedback. However, DARPA/ITO might invite selected individuals to present talks and/or conduct workshops on relevant topics, etc. NO PROPRIETARY DATA SHOULD BE SUBMITTED. ANY SUBMISSIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED TO BE PUBLIC INFORMATION AND MAY BE HANDLED BY NON-GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL. This RFI incorporates by reference FAR 52.215-3, "Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (OCT 1997)," with the same force and effect as if it were given in full text (reference paragraph (c) of this provision, the "purpose" of this RFI is detailed in this announcement). The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/Information Technology Office (DARPA/ITO) requires completion of a Request for Information (RFI) Cover Sheet Submission for each response, by accessing the URL below: http://www.dyncorp-is.com/BAA/RFIindex.asp/RFIid=01-03 After finalizing the Cover Sheet Submission, the respondent must submit the Confirmation Sheet that will automatically appear on the web page. Each respondent is responsible for printing the Confirmation Sheet and submitting it attached to the "original" and each designated number of copies. The Confirmation Sheet should be the first page of your response. Failure to comply with these submission procedures may result in the submission not being reviewed. SUBMISSION FORMAT: Responses should be 2-3 pages in length (not including the confirmation sheet). An original and 4 copies of the full response and 8 electronic copies (i.e., 8 separate disks) of the full RFI response (in Microsoft Word '97 for IBM-compatible, Postscript, or ASCII format on one 3.5-inch floppy disk or one 100 MB Iomega Zip disk). Each disk must be clearly labeled with RFI 01-03, respondent organization, response title (short title recommended) and Copy (number) of 8). The full RFI response (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted to: DARPA/ITO, Attn: RFI 01-03, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. ASCII will be printed 72 characters to the line, 60 lines to the page. Postscript attachments should use 12 point Times New Roman font. Submissions should have the nature of an extended abstract. Each response should develop a single "idea" and should comprise the following sections: Section I. Cover Page: Each submission should clearly identify the following information on a cover sheet or as prefix text to e-mail submissions: Line 1: Title, Line 2: Topic area covered in the submission, Line 3: Name(s) of submitter(s), Line 4: Telephone number, Line 5: e-mail address, Line 6: Institution, company, or organization, and Lines 7-10: Mailing address for response. Section II. Details of Submitted Idea: (1) Innovative Capability Envisioned -- Describe the nature of an innovative advance that might be achieved with respect to the topic to which you are responding. Where possible, quantify the new capability that could be realized. (2) Possible Applications and Benefits -- Cite specific examples of potential demonstration applications that could be used to inspire a broad-based research effort. (3a) Major Technical Obstacles -- Describe specific technical obstacles that must be surpassed in order to achieve the envisioned advance. (3b) Plausible Approaches -- Describe technical approaches that could be explored to overcome the major technical obstacles. Section III. Additional Information: In addition to the required 2-3 page submission, respondents are encouraged to attach a brief list of key citations, including URLs if available. Respondents are also permitted to include a relevant paper. For this, provide one set for the original RFI response and one set for each of the designated response hard copies. Submissions will be considered as submitted if they are received at DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Monday, February 05, 2001. All administrative correspondence and questions concerning this announcement may be directed to one of the following administrative addresses: Fax: 703-522-7161; Addressed to: DARPA/ITO, Attn: RFI 01-03; Electronic Mail: rfi01-03@darpa.mil; Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html; Mail to: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: RFI 01-03, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714.

Web Link

http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html (http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010104/SPMSC004.HTM (W-002 SN5099B0)