Realistic Speech and Sound Testing of Voice-Operated Devices
Market-leading mouth and ear simulators with human voice characteristics
Naerum, Denmark, February 01, 2020 --(PR.com)-- Brüel & Kjær Sound & Vibration Measurement A/S - the world’s leading supplier of advanced technology for sound and vibration - puts focus on the importance of realistic testing when developing and incorporating smart speaker functionality into consumer products.
An often-used method when testing speech intelligibility and sound quality in voice-operated devices is to measure the response accuracy rate (RAR), which is done by replaying recorded voice commands and evaluating how often the voice command is correctly perceived and responded to. A common approach is to use a standard loudspeaker and microphone, but this can give a false indication of the performance because it doesn’t accurately reproduce the directivity and frequency response of a human voice. The precise method is to use mouth and ear simulators.
“Fortunately, reproducing human speech is not a new challenge,” says Lars Birger Nielsen, Focus Market Manager Brüel & Kjær. “Acoustic engineers - and Brüel & Kjær - have wrestled with the issue for many years in the development of traditional communication devices and have developed standardised test methods for evaluating human communication.”
Brüel & Kjær offers market-leading products that facilitate more realistic speech synthesis and listening by faithfully reproducing human characteristics with very tight tolerances on accuracy to ensure repeatability. Its mouth and ear simulators - led by the new High-frequency Head and Torso Simulator (HATS) – accurately match human voice characteristics, thus ensuring quality and efficiency in smart device testing and development.
The company’s High-frequency HATS Type 5218 family is the new standard in the field of product audio evaluation. Its capability of both issuing voice commands and measuring the quality of the smart speaker response makes fully automated testing of smart speakers and other voice operated devices possible. Brüel & Kjær also offers a Mouth Simulator Type 4227; a high-performance artificial mouth, which simulates human speech dispersion patterns.
More information about realistic testing of voice-operated devices is available at: www.bksv.com/smartspeaker
For more information, questions or quotes for any of the above, please contact: www.bksv.com/contact
About HBK – Hottinger, Brüel & Kjær
HBK, home to the Brüel & Kjær Sound and Vibration and HBM Test and Measurement brands, is a subsidiary of UK-based Spectris plc (www.spectris.com), which has annual sales of £1.5 bn and employs approximately 9800 people worldwide across its four business segments.
About Brüel & Kjær
Brüel & Kjær focuses on sound and vibration solutions and develops advanced technology for measuring and managing sound and vibration. As a specialist in this domain, the company helps customers ensure component quality, enhance product performance and monitor operational compliance.
For more than 75 years, Brüel & Kjær’s research and development team has excelled and many have become recognized global experts, who aid the scientific community and teach at renowned centres. The application of experience and technology promotes quality and efficiency at every stage of a product’s life cycle: design, development, manufacture, deployment and operation. Mastering sound and vibration is a key component in accelerating business growth and improving environmental quality.
For more information, please visit www.bksv.com
An often-used method when testing speech intelligibility and sound quality in voice-operated devices is to measure the response accuracy rate (RAR), which is done by replaying recorded voice commands and evaluating how often the voice command is correctly perceived and responded to. A common approach is to use a standard loudspeaker and microphone, but this can give a false indication of the performance because it doesn’t accurately reproduce the directivity and frequency response of a human voice. The precise method is to use mouth and ear simulators.
“Fortunately, reproducing human speech is not a new challenge,” says Lars Birger Nielsen, Focus Market Manager Brüel & Kjær. “Acoustic engineers - and Brüel & Kjær - have wrestled with the issue for many years in the development of traditional communication devices and have developed standardised test methods for evaluating human communication.”
Brüel & Kjær offers market-leading products that facilitate more realistic speech synthesis and listening by faithfully reproducing human characteristics with very tight tolerances on accuracy to ensure repeatability. Its mouth and ear simulators - led by the new High-frequency Head and Torso Simulator (HATS) – accurately match human voice characteristics, thus ensuring quality and efficiency in smart device testing and development.
The company’s High-frequency HATS Type 5218 family is the new standard in the field of product audio evaluation. Its capability of both issuing voice commands and measuring the quality of the smart speaker response makes fully automated testing of smart speakers and other voice operated devices possible. Brüel & Kjær also offers a Mouth Simulator Type 4227; a high-performance artificial mouth, which simulates human speech dispersion patterns.
More information about realistic testing of voice-operated devices is available at: www.bksv.com/smartspeaker
For more information, questions or quotes for any of the above, please contact: www.bksv.com/contact
About HBK – Hottinger, Brüel & Kjær
HBK, home to the Brüel & Kjær Sound and Vibration and HBM Test and Measurement brands, is a subsidiary of UK-based Spectris plc (www.spectris.com), which has annual sales of £1.5 bn and employs approximately 9800 people worldwide across its four business segments.
About Brüel & Kjær
Brüel & Kjær focuses on sound and vibration solutions and develops advanced technology for measuring and managing sound and vibration. As a specialist in this domain, the company helps customers ensure component quality, enhance product performance and monitor operational compliance.
For more than 75 years, Brüel & Kjær’s research and development team has excelled and many have become recognized global experts, who aid the scientific community and teach at renowned centres. The application of experience and technology promotes quality and efficiency at every stage of a product’s life cycle: design, development, manufacture, deployment and operation. Mastering sound and vibration is a key component in accelerating business growth and improving environmental quality.
For more information, please visit www.bksv.com
Contact
Bruel & Kjaer UK Ltd.
Heather Wilkins
01223389919
www.bksv.com
Heather Wilkins
01223389919
www.bksv.com
Contact
Categories