Abstract: An interface unit issues input/output instructions regarding an input of a translation target sentence, an output of a translated sentence, and a translation control. A machine translating apparatus translates a document in a certain language into a document in another language. A translation memory device translates a sentence by searching an original/translation database in which sentences in a certain language and original/translation sentences in another language corresponding thereto have been accumulated. A data compatible processing unit makes original/translation information translated by the machine translating apparatus and original/translation information translated by the translation memory device common, thereby enabling them to be fetched mutually as original/translation information.

Abstract: A control section is used which executes the flowing steps. That is, a) making a plurality of voters respectively vote evaluation of voting-object information in accordance with an on-line voting system by using a plurality of clients, each client being set at a voter's sides, b) calculating average evaluation in accordance with voting results, c) deciding a voter's rank of each of the voters in accordance with a deviation between average evaluation and evaluation by the voter concerned, and d) determining overall evaluation of voting-object information at least in accordance with a result of weighting a voting result correspondingly to the voter's rank.

Abstract: When a keyword described in Japanese is input, the input keyword is converted from Japanese into English. Thus, a retrieval keyword described in English is generated based on the input keyword described in Japanese. Documents that are described in English and that contain the retrieval keyword described in English are retrieved from a database. The retrieved documents are translated from English into Japanese. The documents translated into Japanese are compared with the input keyword described in Japanese. Thus, the validity of the results retrieved from the database is evaluated. Thus, even if the language of a database from which the data is retrieved is different from the language of the input keyword, retrieved results exactly based on the input keyword can be output.

Abstract: An information searching apparatus converts an input key-term into key-terms for searching the database by at least two times of expansions using a related-term dictionary and a translation dictionary, and stores the history of the expansions in the form of a tree structure. Then, a part or the whole of the thus-stored tree structure is displayed on a screen. A searcher designates appropriate terms among the thus-displayed information as key-terms for searching.

Abstract: A token is attached to a word class sequence whose probability of appearance in text data is equal to or more than a predetermined value. A set of words and tokens included in a word/token sequence concerning the text data, is separated so that a probability of generation of the word/token sequence concerning the text data becomes the highest. The token is then replaced with a phrase included in the text data.

Abstract: In a word clustering apparatus for clustering words, a plurality of words is clustered to obtain a total tree diagram of a word dictionary representing a word clustering result, where the total tree diagram includes tree diagrams of an upper layer, a middle layer and a lower layer. In a speech recognition apparatus, a microphone converts an input utterance speech composed of a plurality of words into a speech signal, and a feature extractor extracts predetermined acoustic feature parameters from the converted speech signal. Then, a speech recognition controller executes a speech recognition process on the extracted acoustic feature parameters with reference to a predetermined Hidden Markov Model and the obtained total tree diagram of the word dictionary, and outputs a result of the speech recognition.

Abstract: Recording and erasing optical information can be done by using an alloy film capable of forming two stable crystalline states differing in crystal texture and optical characteristics by being irradiated with optical energies under different conditions. A thin memory film preferably including 60 to 90 atom % of Indium (IN) and 10 to 40 atom % of Bismuth (Bi) is formed on a substrate.

Abstract: Recording and erasing optical information can be done by using an alloy film capable of forming two stable crystalline states differing in crystal texture and optical characteristics by being irradiated with optical energies under different conditions. The thin memory film preferably includes not more than 60 atom % of Gallium (Ga) and not less than 40 atom % of Antimony (Sb).

Abstract: Recording and erasing optical information can be done by using an alloy film capable of forming two stable crystalline states differing in crystal texture and optical characteristics by being irradiated with optical energies under different conditions. The memory film includes 35-45 atom % of indium (In) and 55-65 atom % of antimony (Sb). The memory film may include an additional element M selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, P, S, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Sn, Te, Tl, Pb, Bi, and a combination of these elements, the composition of the memory film being expressed by the formula (In.sub.x Sb.sub.1-x).sub.1-y M.sub.y.

Abstract: Recording and erasing optical information can be done by using an alloy film capable of forming two stable crystalline states differing in crystal texture and optical characteristics by being irradiated with optical energies under different conditions. The memory film includes 35-45 atom % of Indium (In) and 55-65 atom % of antimony (Sb).