Corpora: Press release for EELS Conference

Marc Blasband (cplr@worldonline.nl)
Wed, 3 Mar 1999 09:55:44 +0100

EELS

European Evaluation of Language Systems

Natural language systems open new perspectives for computer users and =
therefore, user-friendliness gets a totally new dimension. Language is =
the new frontier. Language Engineering (LE) offers a broad and easy =
contact between users and computer applications.

However, user companies are used to purchasing more conventional =
software systems. It is essential for these companies to know that LE =
requires non-conventional evaluation methods and provides =
non-conventional benefits.

The Directorate General XIII (telecommunications, Information market and =
Exploitation of Research) of the European Commission has subsidised the =
development of language technology and has also led the development of =
basic methods necessary for developing language technology. =
Additionally, the Commission has supported the deployment of this =
technology, more specifically, how to determine its adequacy for =
industrial requirements. As part of that effort, the EAGLES evaluation =
group has extended the standards developed by ISO (international =
Organisation for Standardisation) for the software engineering industry =
to fit the special needs of natural language applications. EAGLES has =
achieved significant success in developing a framework that can support =
the evaluation of products and systems using language. Theoretical work =
has been complemented by the practical application of the framework to =
specific LE projects, and LE products with diverse characteristics and =
functions.

Together with the EAGLES evaluation group and the European Commission, =
Compuleer is organising a two-day conference: EELS (European Evaluation =
of Language Systems). The purpose of EELS is to transfer the results =
from the research laboratories to the industrial world, specifically to =
the quality assurance specialists. At this conference the EAGLES results =
will be presented: a customisable framework to produce tailored =
evaluations.

A workshop will describe a practical application of the framework to the =
industrial deployment of a spoken dialogue system (ARISE) in a railways =
call centre. Problems that participants experience when evaluating =
language systems can be handled in the evaluation clinic. A description =
of the problems/questions should be submitted by the participants =
beforehand.

The purpose of EELS is to provide the attendants with the tools to =
determine if a language system satisfies their needs. EELS will =
contribute to the successful deployment of LE technology on the market.

EELS: European Evaluation of Language Systems

Date: 12 and 13 April 1999

Location: De Klepperman in Hoevenlaken, The Netherlands

Costs: 1000 EURO for two days (incl. attendance at the conference, =
documentation and accommodation)

More information: Compuleer=20

Mr. Marc Blasband

Egelinglaan 16a

3705 TC Zeist

The Netherlands=20

tel./fax: +31 (0)30 6992343=20

e-mail: cplr@worldonline.nl=20

URL: www.eelsconference.com

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Compuleer
Egelinglaan 16A
3705 TC ZEIST
Tel/Fax +31 30 6992343
e-mail: cplr@worldonline.nl