A history of how humans developed our capacity for conversation--and
what might happen now that computers are catching up
Trevor Cox has been described by The Observer as "a David Attenborough
of the acoustic realm." In Now You're Talking, he takes us on a
journey through the wonders of human speech, starting with the evolution
of language and our biological capability to speak (and listen), and
bringing us up to date with the latest computer technology.
Language is what makes us human, and how we speak is integral to our
personal identity. But with the invention of sound recording and the
arrival of the electrified voice, human communication changed forever;
now advances in computer science and artificial intelligence are
promising an even greater transformation. And with it come the
possibilities to reproduce, manipulate, and replicate the human
voice--sometimes with disturbing consequences.
Now You're Talking is the fascinating story of our ability to
converse. It takes us back to the core of our humanity, asking important
questions about what makes us human and how this uniqueness might be
threatened. On this illuminating tour we meet vocal coaches and record
producers, neuroscientists and computer programmers, whose experience
and research provide us with a deeper understanding of something that
most of us take for granted--our ability to talk and listen.
