Reverberation: models, estimation and application

The use of reverberation models is required in many applications such as acoustic measurements, speech dereverberation and robust automatic speech recognition. The aim of this thesis is to investigate different models and propose a perceptually-relevant reverberation model with suitable parameter estimation techniques for different applications. Reverberation can be modelled in both the time and frequency domain. The model parameters give direct information of both physical and perceptual characteristics. These characteristics create a multidimensional parameter space of reverberation, which can be to a large extent captured by a time-frequency domain model. In this thesis, the relationship between physical and perceptual model parameters will be discussed. In the first application, an intrusive technique is proposed to measure the reverberation or reverberance, perception of reverberation and the colouration. The room decay rate parameter is of particular interest. In practical applications, a blind estimate of the decay rate of acoustic energy in a room is required. A statistical model for the distribution of the decay rate of the reverberant signal named the eagleMax distribution is proposed. The eagleMax distribution describes the reverberant speech decay rates as a random variable that is the maximum of the room decay rates and anechoic speech decay rates. Three methods were developed to estimate the mean room decay rate from the eagleMax distributions alone. The estimated room decay rates form a reverberation model that will be discussed in the context of room acoustic measurements, speech dereverberation and robust automatic speech recognition individually

Reverberation : models, estimation and application

The use of reverberation models is required in many applications such as acoustic measurements,speech dereverberation and robust automatic speech recognition. The aim of this thesis is toinvestigate different models and propose a perceptually-relevant reverberation model with suitableparameter estimation techniques for different applications. Reverberation can be modelled in both the time and frequency domain. The model parametersgive direct information of both physical and perceptual characteristics. These characteristicscreate a multidimensional parameter space of reverberation, which can be to a large extent capturedby a time-frequency domain model. In this thesis, the relationship between physical and perceptualmodel parameters will be discussed. In the first application, an intrusive technique is proposed tomeasure the reverberation or reverberance, perception of reverberation and the colouration. Theroom decay rate parameter is of particular interest. In practical applications, a blind estimate of the decay rate of acoustic energy in a roomis required. A statistical model for the distribution of the decay rate of the reverberant signalnamed the eagleMax distribution is proposed. The eagleMax distribution describes the reverberantspeech decay rates as a random variable that is the maximum of the room decay rates and anechoicspeech decay rates. Three methods were developed to estimate the mean room decay rate fromthe eagleMax distributions alone. The estimated room decay rates form a reverberation model thatwill be discussed in the context of room acoustic measurements, speech dereverberation and robustautomatic speech recognition individually.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Application of the Living Lab Concept: Empirical Validation in Taiwan's Minsheng Community

Starting in 2009, the Institute for Information Industry (III) began implementing empirical Living Lab applications in different locations throughout the Minsheng Community, Songshan District that targeted different user groups. These applications included the Future Classroom and Green Life Ecological Tourguide, which targeted junior high school students; ComCare, which targeted the elderly residents of the community; In-Snergy, which targeted large buildings; and inMedia_Kiosks, which targeted the general public. There are three main contributions to this study. First, it provides complete solution to technological service enterprises. Secondly, the Living Lab improves partnership relations with local residents. Thirdly, it enables Taiwan to establish close links and conduct knowledge exchange with Living Lab projects around the world.<br /