- Auris Tech, founded by Competition Jury member Kim Antoniou, announced on 12 October
2023 that it had secured a European patent relating to its Automatic Speech Recognition
technology.The company’s technology has been developed specifically around reading and educational
assessment rather than general-purpose speech recognition.Automatic Speech Recognition, or ASR, enables software to process and interpret spoken
language. In an educational environment, specialised speech-recognition systems can be used
to analyse elements of reading performance and provide data that can support assessment and
learning.Auris Tech has focused its development on applications for children’s literacy.According to the company, its technology is designed to recognise aspects of spoken reading
and support functions including the assessment of fluency and pronunciation and the
provision of feedback.Developing speech-recognition technology for children presents particular technical
challenges. Children’s speech patterns, pronunciation and reading ability can differ
significantly from those of adults, requiring systems designed around the intended user group
rather than relying exclusively on general-purpose voice-recognition models.The European patent strengthened Auris Tech’s intellectual-property portfolio and
represented an important milestone in the development of its technology.The project is also an example of innovation created around a clearly defined practical
problem: applying advances in speech recognition to reading, literacy and educational
assessment.Kim Antoniou is Founder and CEO of Auris Tech and serves on the Competition Jury of the
Association of Certified Professionals in Innovation & Invention.