skip to main content
article
Free Access

Speech synthesis for computer assisted instruction: The MISS system and its applications

Authors Info & Claims
Published:01 February 1976Publication History
Skip Abstract Section

Abstract

The Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences at Stanford (IMSSS) has developed a synthesis system, MISS (Microprogrammed Intoned Speech Synthesizer), designed to test the effectiveness of computer-generated speech in the context of complex CAI programs. No one method of computer controlled speech production is completely satisfactory for all the uses of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). The choice of synthesis method is strongly related to the kinds of curriculums and instructional designs that will use speech. We chose to use acoustic modelling by linear predictive coding as the method of synthesis for MISS.(1)

In Section 2 we describe criteria appropriate for organizing the comparison of voice response systems for use with instructional computers. Then we describe the particular requirements imposed by curriculums at IMSSS, review general voice synthesis techniques, and finally discuss our actual choice. In Sections 3 and 4 we outline the hardware and software that have been created to support MISS in operational CAI at Stanford.

In Section 5 we discuss the applications of audio to CAI.

References

  1. 1 Allen, J. Speech synthesis from unrestricted text. In J. L. Flanagan & L. R. Rabiner (Eds.), Speech Synthesis, Stroudsburg, Pa.: Dowden, Hutchinson, & Ross, 1973.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  2. 2 Atal, B. S. & Hanauer, S. L. Speech analysis and synthesis by linear prediction of the speech wave. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1970, 50, 637-655.Google ScholarGoogle ScholarCross RefCross Ref
  3. 3 Atkinson, R. C., Fletcher, J. D., Lindsay, E. J., Campbell, J. O., and Barr, A. Computer-assisted instruction in initial reading (Tech. Rep. No. 207). Stanford, Calif.: Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, Stanford University, 1973.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  4. 4 Coker, C. H., Umeda, N. & Browman, C. P. Automatic synthesis from ordinary English text. IEEE Transactions on Audio and E acoustics, June 1973, AU-21, No. 3, 293-298.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  5. 5 Fairbanks, G. Voice and articulation drillbook (2nd ed.). New York: Harper & Brothers, 1940.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  6. 6 Flanagan, J. L. Speech analysis synthesis and perception. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1972.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  7. 7 Flanagan, J. L. & Rabiner, L. R. (ed.), Speech synthesis. Stroudsburg, Pa.: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, 1973.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  8. 8 Gray, A. H. & Markel, J. D. A spectral-flatness measure for studying the autocorrelation method of linear prediction of speech analysis. IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, June 1974, ASSP-22, No. 3, 207-217.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  9. 9 Heffner, R-M. S. General phonetics. Madison, Wisc.: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1969.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  10. 10 Ishida, H., & Fujimura, O., A computer-based pronunciation-hearing test system using a hybrid magnetic tape unit, Proceedings of the IFIP Congress 1971, V. 2, Amsterdam: North Holland, 1971.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  11. 11 Jerman, M., Clinton, J. P. M., & Sobers, A. W. A CAI program for the home. Educational Technology, December, 1971, p. 49.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  12. 12 Lorton, Paul Jr., Computer-based instruction in spelling: An investigation of optimal strategies for presenting instructional material. Ph. D. dissertation, Stanford University, June, 1973.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  13. 13 Makhoul, J. I. Natural communication with computers: Speech compression research at BBN. Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., December 1974, Final Report, V. II, Report No. 2976.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  14. 14 Makhoul, J. Spectral analysis of speech by linear prediction. IEEE Transactions on Audio and Electroacoustics, June 1973, AU-21, No. 3, 140-148.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  15. 15 Markel, J. D. & Gray, A. H. A linear prediction vocoder simulation based upon the autocorrelation method. IEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing, April 1974, ASSP-22, No. 2, 124-134.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  16. 16 Raugh, M. R., Schupbach, R. D., & Atkinson, R. C. Teaching a large Russian vocabulary by the mnemonic keyword method (Tech. Rep. No. 256). Stanford, Calif.: Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, Stanford University, 1975.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  17. 17 Sanders, W. R. & Benbassat, G. V. The MISS speech synthesis system, in preparation. Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, Stanford University.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  18. 18 Smith, R. L., Graves, H., Blaine, L. H., & Marinov, V. G. Computer-assisted axiomatic mathematics: Informal rigor. In O. Lecarme & R. Lewis (Eds.), Computers in education, part 1: IFIP. Amsterdam: North Holland, 1975.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  19. 19 J. Risken, Personal communication, CERL, University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana, Illinois.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  20. 20 Smith, R. L. & Blaine, L. H., A generalized system for mathematics instruction, in press.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  21. 21 Stevens, K. N., Kasowski, S. & Fant, C. G. M. An electrical analog of the vocal tract. In J. L. Flanagan, & L. R. Rabiner, (Eds.), Speech synthesis. Stroudsburg, Pa.: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, 1973.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  22. 22 Suppes, P., Introduction to logic, New York: Van Nostrand, 1957.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  23. 23 Suppes, P., and Morningstar, M., Computer-asssisted instruction at Stanford, 1966-68: Data. models, and evaluation of the arithmetic programs, New York: Academic Press, 1972.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  24. 24 Suppes, P., Smith, R. L., & Beard, M. University-level CAI at Stanford: 1975 (Tech. Rep. No. 265). Stanford, Calif.: Institute for Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, 1975.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar

Index Terms

  1. Speech synthesis for computer assisted instruction: The MISS system and its applications

      Recommendations

      Comments

      Login options

      Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

      Sign in

      Full Access

      • Published in

        cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
        ACM SIGCSE Bulletin  Volume 8, Issue 1
        Proceedings of the SIGCSE-SIGCUE joint symposium on Computer science education
        February 1976
        399 pages
        ISSN:0097-8418
        DOI:10.1145/952989
        Issue’s Table of Contents
        • cover image ACM Conferences
          SIGCSE '76: Proceedings of the ACM SIGCSE-SIGCUE technical symposium on Computer science and education
          February 1976
          403 pages
          ISBN:9781450374125
          DOI:10.1145/800107

        Copyright © 1976 ACM

        Publisher

        Association for Computing Machinery

        New York, NY, United States

        Publication History

        • Published: 1 February 1976

        Check for updates

        Qualifiers

        • article

      PDF Format

      View or Download as a PDF file.

      PDF

      eReader

      View online with eReader.

      eReader
      About Cookies On This Site

      We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

      Learn more

      Got it!