Experiences Using a Free Tool for Voice Therapy based on Speech Technologies

2013 ◽  
pp. 508-523
Author(s):  
William R. Rodríguez ◽  
Oscar Saz ◽  
Eduardo Lleida
Keyword(s):  
Speech Processing ◽  
Speech Development ◽  
Voice Therapy ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Visual Elements ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Processing Techniques ◽  
Visual Interface

This chapter reports the results after two years of deployment of PreLingua, a free computer-based tool for voice therapy, in different educational institutions. PreLingua gathers a set of activities that use speech processing techniques and an adapted interface to train patients who present speech development delays or special voice needs in the environment of special education. Its visual interface is especially designed for children with cognitive disabilities and maps relevant voice parameters like intensity, vocal onset, durations of sounds, fundamental frequency, and formant frequencies to visually attractive graphics. Reports of successful results of the use of PreLingua have been gathered in several countries by audiologists, speech therapists, and other professionals in the fields of voice therapy, and also, in other fields such as early stimulation, mutism, and attention-deficit disorders. This chapter brings together the experiences of these professionals on the use of the tool and how the use of an interface paradigm that maps acoustic features directly to visual elements in a screen can provide improvements in voice disorders in patients with cognitive and speech delays.

Experiences Using a Free Tool for Voice Therapy Based on Speech Technologies

2013 ◽  
pp. 22-37
Author(s):  
William R. Rodríguez ◽  
Oscar Saz ◽  
Eduardo Lleida
Keyword(s):  
Speech Processing ◽  
Speech Development ◽  
Voice Therapy ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Visual Elements ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Processing Techniques ◽  
Visual Interface

This chapter reports the results after two years of deployment of PreLingua, a free computer-based tool for voice therapy, in different educational institutions. PreLingua gathers a set of activities that use speech processing techniques and an adapted interface to train patients who present speech development delays or special voice needs in the environment of special education. Its visual interface is especially designed for children with cognitive disabilities and maps relevant voice parameters like intensity, vocal onset, durations of sounds, fundamental frequency, and formant frequencies to visually attractive graphics. Reports of successful results of the use of PreLingua have been gathered in several countries by audiologists, speech therapists, and other professionals in the fields of voice therapy, and also, in other fields such as early stimulation, mutism, and attention-deficit disorders. This chapter brings together the experiences of these professionals on the use of the tool and how the use of an interface paradigm that maps acoustic features directly to visual elements in a screen can provide improvements in voice disorders in patients with cognitive and speech delays.

Perception of Vowels and Dental Consonants in Bangla Speech Processing

2013 ◽  
pp. 246-272
Author(s):  
Syed Akhter Hossain ◽  
M. Lutfar Rahman ◽  
Faruk Ahmed ◽  
M. Abdus Sobhan
Keyword(s):  
Speech Enhancement ◽  
Automatic Speech Recognition ◽  
Speech Processing ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Problem Area ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Independent Manner

The aim of this chapter is to clearly understand the salient features of Bangla vowels and the sources of acoustic variability in Bangla vowels, and to suggest classification of vowels based on normalized acoustic parameters. Possible applications in automatic speech recognition and speech enhancement have made the classification of vowels an important problem to study. However, Bangla vowels spoken by different native speakers show great variations in their respective formant values. This brings further complications in the acoustic comparison of vowels due to different dialect and language backgrounds of the speakers. This variation necessitates the use of normalization procedures to remove the effect of non-linguistic factors. Although several researchers found a number of acoustical and perceptual correlates of vowels, acoustic parameters that work well in a speaker-independent manner are yet to be found. Besides, study of acoustic features of Bangla dental consonants to identify the spectral differences between different consonants and to parameterize them for the synthesis of the segments is another problem area for study. The extracted features for both Bangla vowels and dental consonants are tested and found with good synthetic representations that demonstrate the quality of acoustic features.

Relevant Aspects for Test Delivery Systems Evaluation

2011 ◽  
pp. 203-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Valenti ◽  
Alessandro Cucciarelli ◽  
Maurizio Panti
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Delivery Systems ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Online Assessment ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Entire Process ◽  
Computer Based

The number of educational institutions seeking solutions to the problems associated with the burden of expanded student numbers is increasing every day. Most solutions to the problems of delivering course content, supporting student learning, and assessment may be found through the use of computers, thanks to the continuous advances of information technology. According to Bull (1999), using computers to perform assessment is more contentious than using them both to deliver content and to support student learning. In many papers, the terms Computer Assisted Assessment (CAA) and Computer Based Assessment (CBA) are often used interchangeably and somewhat inconsistently. The former usually covers all use of computers in assessment, including reporting and marking, such as in optical mark reading. The latter is often restricted to the use of computers for the entire process, including delivery of the assessment and provision of feedback (Charman and Elmes, 1998). In this paper we will adopt the term Computer Based Assessment and we will discuss some issues related to the online assessment of students.

Laboratory fire spread analysis using visual and infrared images

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ramiro Martínez-de Dios ◽  
Jorge C. André ◽  
João C. Gonçalves ◽  
Begoña Ch. Arrue ◽  
Aníbal Ollero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Graphical Model ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Rate Of Spread ◽  
Virtual View ◽  
Fire Front ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Front Shape ◽  
Processing Techniques ◽  
Spread Analysis ◽  
Base Width

This paper presents an experimental method using computer-based image processing techniques of visual and infrared movies of a propagating fire front, taken from one or more cameras, to supply the time evolutions of the fire front shape and position, flame inclination angle, height, and base width. As secondary outputs, it also provides the fire front rate of spread and a 3D graphical model of the fire front that can be rendered from any virtual view. The method is automatic and non-intrusive, has space–time resolution close to continuum and can be run in real-time or deferred modes. It is demonstrated in simple laboratory experiments in beds of pine needles set upon an inclinable burn table, with point and linear ignitions, but can be extended to open field situations.

Computer-Based Assessment of Cognitive Abilities: Current Status/Future Directions

1986 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-147
Author(s):  
Ben F. Eller ◽  
Alan S. Kaufman ◽  
James E. McLean
Keyword(s):  
Computer Technology ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Storage And Retrieval ◽  
Retrieval Systems ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
The Impact

Rapid advances in the computer industry and the concomitant knowledge explosion have created a revolution in the information handling electronics industry. The continued proliferation of computer technology in the educational environment appears inevitable. There seems to be little doubt that recent advances in educational technology will have important consequences for educational institutions at all levels during the coming decades. Students, teachers, and administrators alike have already come to rely on bibliographic and statistical data bases, automated dictionaries, micrographic storage and retrieval systems, and specialized interactive cable and videotext systems for information access. Despite the impact of computer technology in the school environment, guidelines for planning and developing useable software for assessing cognitive abilities has warranted little attention in educational literature. This article suggests that computer-based support systems are now available which could be instrumental in solving the problems associated with cognitive assessment.

SUPPORTING THE SPEECH DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN STAYING IN FOSTER CARE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Beata Wolosiuk ◽  
Marzena Ruszkowska ◽  
Sebastian Sobczuk ◽  
Piotr Zdunkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Social Environment ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Verbal Communication ◽  
Speech Development ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
State School ◽  
Care Centre ◽  
The Social ◽  
Family Home ◽  
Educational Care

The aim of the article was the analysis of the problem of speech development in care and educational institutions and family-run children’s houses. Speech plays an important role in our life. The ability of speaking properly enables people to form interpersonal communication. Due to our speech, we can express our thoughts, feelings and experience. Thus, it is crucial to stimulate a child’s verbal communication from the earliest years. Speech development, which has a genetical basis and depends on innate attributes, is possible only in the context of the social environment. The aim of the study was the analysis of the problem of verbal communication in care and educational institutions and family-run children’s houses in the Lublin province.The material for the article was created as part of the project "Education, levelling developmental and educational deficiencies of children under the care of family-run children’s houses as well as the educational care centre". The project was implemented by the Department of Pedagogy of Higher State School in Biała Podlaska. There were used two methods in the research: diagnostic survey and study of individual cases. The following questionnaires were used: proprietary questionnaires for charges, interview questionnaires with educators of educational care centres and family houses, an observation sheet and interviews with coordinators and directors of the examined institutions.The occurrence of numerous problems refer to the development of verbal communication both in care and educational centers and family-run children’s houses. This function is performed more advantageous in a family home.  

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