Slashdot Mirror
Detecting Speech Without Microphones
kyle90 writes "New Scientist is reporting on a new way of detecting speech without using microphones, using electrodes places on the neck that measure muscle activity and nerve impulses. Apparently the user doesn't even need to speak the words out loud in order for them to be detected. This looks like pretty neat technology; if used with cell phones it could give the user a little more privacy, and the rest of us a little more peace and quiet."
However, both systems come at a cost. Because the words are produced by a computer, the receiver of the call would hear the speaker talking with an artificial voice. But for some that may be a price worth paying for a little peace and quiet.
Get one of these for Ashlee Simpson, pronto!
This sounds almost exactly like the subvocalization technology that Ender uses to communicate with Jane in the later books.
As those who've read it will remember, silent communication while around others can lead to a whole new set of problems all it's own... Especially when it's apparent that you're communicating, but not what you're saying.
"Oh, I like geeks way better than I like humans." - Mari Sarris
.
I just said something, guess what it was?
This is a great idea until you mutter some expletive under your breath while talking to your boss. I can also foresee some embarrassments for those that can't read without moving their lips.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
My first question is this: The vocal cords are resonators, they move because air is moving over them. If the cords aren't making any noise, it's because they aren't moving. If they aren't moving how does this system pick up their movement. If you have to sub vocalise (ie mumble quietly to yourself) then how is this different from the throat mike that has been around for ages. Very skimpy article for the New Scientist (all new, no science)
It is easier to square the circle than to get round a mathematician. A.De Morgan 1872
The process of speech is one that involves several steps, you must inhale, make your vocal cords viberate, exhale through the viberating vocal cords, and then use your mouth and tounge to shape the air as it's going out to produce a certain sound. Any one of these steps can be done by itself but it won't produce speech. It's the same way you can "mouth" words to a freind who's sitting on the opposite side of a quite room, you are saying the words...just very quitely so that nobody can hear them.
It works by virtue of the fact that your motor cortex plans ahead. So, even while you have not yet consciously taken the decision to speak yet, your motor cortex has already set up the appropriate commands and sent them out to the nerves involved. This translates to an increased firing rate in these nerves, which is not enough to move the muscles but will be sufficient to register on sufficiently sensitive equipment. In fact (other discussion entirely, but fascinating nonetheless) most of our "voluntary" decisions appear to be made before we become aware of them. So much for free will :)
----- One learns to itch where one can scratch.
That may be the process for Americans. With most people, however, using their brain to think about what to say is the first step in speech production.
I see a pretty girl, I get a bulge in my pants. Pretty girls sees me, sees bulge, smacks me in the face. Not a word said yet we are all perfectly clear where we stand.
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
aircraft pilots have been using bone-induction mic's since WWII; there's no other way to block out the background noise. this is interesting because it reads from the nervous system directly
are there any good bone-induction mics for cell phone / portable usage? i spent a while looking a couple years back and turned up two things, both of which were ear-mounted. i'd much rather a throat mounted system; i imagine its much better able to pick up sound.