Category: Business, Computer Program, Medical

Description:  A speech-therapy computer program to assist deaf / near-deaf people to
                           speak well.



Idea:  

A computer program that makes a precise visual representation of spoken word, and uses this representation as the foundation for a training program that assists in allowing deaf / near-deaf individuals to speak well, or helps them hone their speaking ability.

User is given a word to say.  They attempt to say the word and a visual representation is given in near-real-time of the quality of what they say, overlaid on the precise representation of what they are shooting for (proper pronunciation and enunciation).  

-Program gives feedback to help show progress/regression.

The visual display is three dimensional, made up of a continuous (fluid) series of slices of the progression of saying the word (i.e., the display is proper pronunciation and enunciation traveling through time).  The closest descriptive is a cylinder, or a rectangular cuboid- a square cylinder.

The main display is from above and to the side, and towards the front of the “cylinder”. The “cylinder” is transparent- the inside can be seen.

Each slice has areas corresponding to the different pieces of what makes the entirety of human audio.  Each area to have its range displayed through color and/or texture.


The slices, and groups of slices can be isolated for the user to help learn certain areas, or work on areas he/she is having difficulty with.



Example(s):  

Proper, clear pronunciation and enunciation of Dog is displayed as a visual representation by the computer program.  D-Do-o-og-g   is displayed.  User says Jw-Jwo-o-og-g   and the program gives a precise representation of what user said.  User crops D-Do from the proper annun/enun representation and works on just that part.  Using what he says overlaid on the precise D-Do, users slowly moves to proper annun/enun, and towards proper annun/enun of the word Dog.

Future Additions(s):  


Program goes beyond singular words, and can display sentences, and the tonal range as applied to speech (e.g., the raise in pitch at the end of a question).

- a simple written display of  the sentence; when sentence is vocalized, a % rating on
  the accuracy of pronun/enun for each word of a sentence, along with a 2-d graph
  of needed volume, and pitch(if applicable).  User can click on words he/she wishes
  to improve upon which brings up the 3-d representation and vocalization program.


With some alteration and upgrading, program can be extended into other areas, including general security (e.g., accurate voice recognition and identification).



Confidence:  7 (Provisional)


Provided there is nothing that is similar to this, I think it would do well.  The computer program and business would have to start small for proof-of-concept work.



Additional Comment(s):


If there is a computer program similar to this, utilize and edit/upgrade it to make it work for this need.