• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.962-977
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• 2019

The human voice is a convenient method of information transfer between different objects such as between men, men and machine, between machines. The development of information and communication technology, the voice has been able to transfer farther than before. The way to communicate, it is to convert the voice to another form, transmit it, and then reconvert it back to sound. In such a communication process, a vocoder is a method of converting and re-converting a voice and sound. The CELP (Code-Excited Linear Prediction) type vocoder, one of the voice codecs, is adapted as a standard codec since it provides high quality sound even though its transmission speed is relatively low. The EVRC (Enhanced Variable Rate CODEC) and QCELP (Qualcomm Code-Excited Linear Prediction), variable bit rate vocoders, are used for mobile phones in 3G environment. For the real-time implementation of a vocoder, the reduction of sound quality is a typical problem. To improve the sound quality, that is important to know the size and shape of noise. In the existing sound quality improvement method, the voice activated is detected or used, or statistical methods are used by the large mount of data. However, there is a disadvantage in that no noise can be detected, when there is a continuous signal or when a change in noise is large.This paper focused on finding a better way to decrease the reduction of sound quality in lower bit transmission environments. Based on simulation results, this study proposed a preprocessor application that estimates the SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) using the spectral SNR estimation method. The SNR estimation method adopted the IMBE (Improved Multi-Band Excitation) instead of using the SNR, which is a continuous speech signal. Finally, this application improves the quality of the vocoder by enhancing sound quality adaptively.

• 대한후두음성언어의학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.28-30
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• 2008

The problem of voice restoration after total laryngectomy has existed ever since Billroth's first total laryngectomy in 1873. Since then, all the efforts to restore the voice was tried to divert the tracheal air to the pharynx to produce voice, which became the tracheo-esophageal shunt voice currently used. With the intact pharyngoesophagus, however, there are two basic options for speech rehabilitation : the artificial larynx and esophageal voice. The artificial larynx is an electrically driven buzzer or a sound transducer and its most common type is placed against a supple point on patient's neck and introduces a mechanical sound into the tissues and air spaces of the neck. This sound, emanating form the mouth, is articulated by the intact structures of the remaining vocal tract as understandable speech. Esophageal voice is a commonly recommended method for alaryngeal speech rehabilitation, which can be successfully done by regurgitating the air stored in the esophagus. Successful esophageal voice is preferable to the artificial larynx but, most patients usually adapt only one of those methods according to their needs and feasibility to learn.

• 한국HCI학회논문지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.15-22
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• 2016

가전제품과 사용자와의 상호작용 방식이 다양해지고 있다. 사용자는 리모컨, 터치스크린 등으로 기기를 제어할 수 있고, 기기 역시 사운드, 음성, 시각적 신호 등 다양한 방식으로 사용자에게 피드백을 줄 수 있게 되었다. 그러나 사용자의 조작 방식에 따른 피드백 방식을 배정하는 원칙이나 기준이 없어 각 브랜드, 기기 별로 임의로 배정되어 있는 상황이다. 본 연구에서는 사용자가 가전제품을 음성 명령을 통해 조작할 때와 버튼으로 조작할 때 가전제품에서 주어지는 피드백의 방식으로 음성, 소리 중 어떤 방식이 적절한지 실험을 통해 알아보았다. 본 연구에서는 조작 방식(음성 인식, 버튼), 피드백 방식(음성 안내, 소리)의 조합으로 구성 된 총 4가지($2{\times}2$) 셀을 갖는 요인 설계 실험을 진행하였고, 조작 방식과 피드백 방식의 조합에 따라 피 실험자가 느끼는 사용성, 만족도, 선호도, 적합도가 달라지는지 살펴보았다. 그 결과 가전제품을 음성 인식으로 조작 하는 것이 사용 용이성, 조작 만족도가 높았다. 하지만 버튼으로 조작 했을 때는 피드백 방식의 종류에 따라 사용 용이성, 조작 만족도가 달라지는 것으로 나타나, 조작 방식과 피드백 방식의 상호작용 효과가 검정되었다. 조작 방식, 피드백 방식의 조합이 가전에 적절한지에 대해서는 피드백 방식의 주효과가 검정되었다. 결론적으로 음성 인식으로 조작 할 때는 피드백이 소리(earcons)로 제시되는 것이 만족도가 높았으나 이는 통계적으로 검정 되는 정도는 아니었으며, 버튼을 조작 할 때는 피드백이 음성 안내로 제시되는 것이 만족도가 높았으며 이는 통계적으로 검정 되었다. 또한 가전에 어떠한 조작 방법이나 피드백 방법이 적절한지에 대해서는 피드백 방법이 주로 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다.

• 말소리와 음성과학
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2021

Voice onset time (VOT) is known to be a primary acoustic cue that differentiates voiced from voiceless stops in the world's languages. While much attention has been given to the sound change of Korean stops, little attention has been given to that of English stops. This study examines VOT of stop consonants as produced by English speakers in comparison to Korean speakers to see whether there is any VOT change for English stops and how the effects of stop, place, gender, and individual on VOT differ cross-linguistically. A total of 24 native speakers (11 Americans and 13 Koreans) participated in this experiment. The results showed that, for Korean, the VOT merger of lax and aspirated stops was replicated, and, for English, voiced stops became initially devoiced and voiceless stops became heavily aspirated. English voiceless stops became longer in VOT than Korean counterparts. The results suggest that, similar to Korean stops, English stops may also undergo a sound change. Since it is the first study to be revealed, more convincing evidence is necessary.

• 말소리와 음성과학
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.95-104
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• 2012

Thyroidectomy patients may have vocal paralysis or paresis, resulting in a breathy voice. The aim of this study was to investigate the aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of a breathy voice in thyroidectomy patients. Thirty-five subjects who have vocal paralysis after thyroidectomy participated in this study. According to perceptual judgements by three speech pathologists and one phonetic scholar, subjects were divided into two groups: breathy voice group (n = 21) and non-breathy voice group (n = 14). Aerodynamic analysis was conducted by three tasks (Voicing Efficiency, Maximum Sustained Phonation, Vital Capacity) and acoustic analysis was measured during Maximum Sustained Phonation task. The breathy voice group had significantly higher subglottal pressure and more pathological voice characteristics than the non breathy voice group. Showing 94.1% classification accuracy in result logistic regression of aerodynamic analysis, the predictor parameters for breathiness were maximum sound pressure level, sound pressure level range, phonation time of Maximum Sustained Phonation task and Pitch range, peak air pressure, and mean peak air pressure of Voicing Efficiency task. Classification accuracy of acoustic logistic regression was 88.6%, and five frequency perturbation parameters were shown as predictors. Vocal paralysis creates air turbulence at the glottis. It fluctuates frequency-related parameters and increases aspiration in high frequency areas. These changes determine perceptual breathiness.

• 사상체질면역의학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.53-60
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• 2004

Purpose This study is to find the characteristics of voice quality based on the classifying the sound characteristics and B.M.I. by Sasang Constitution. Methods To make the notion of the consensus of Sasang Constitution's Voice, classification into 4 categories was made: clear/hoarse, high/low, powerful/powerless, fast/slow. Result The voice quality of Soyangin group was classified as powerful and fast, and that of Taeumin group was classified as powerful and hoarse and low, and that of Soeumin group was classified as powerless and clear. The mean B.M.I. of Soeumin group was classified as 21.4, and that of Taeumin group was classified as 26.3. Conclusion 1. Taeumin was significantly high compared with Soeumin in B.M.I. 2. It can be classified as Taeumin when B.M.I. is high(26.3). 3. It can be classified as Soeumin when B.M.I. is low(21.4). 4. The voice quality of Soyangin group was classified as clear and fast, or strong and clear, and that of Taeumin group as powerful and hoarse, and that of Soeumin group as powerless and low.

• 말소리와 음성과학
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.223-228
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• 2010

This study investigated the closed quotient and other voice quality parameters using electroglottography (EGG) in sustaining the vowel /a/ and reading a sentence at the comfortable pitch and loudness in healthy Korean adults. Seventy two healthy adults (36 men, 36 women) aged 20~40 years were included in the study. The tasks were recorded and analyzed using Lx Speech Studio. In vowel sustaining task, closed quotient (Qx), fundamental frequency (Fx), sound pressure level (SPL), Jitter, and Shimmer were measured. In sentence reading task, closed quotient (DQx), fundamental frequency (DFx), and sound pressure level (DAx) were measured. The sex effects were observed on Qx, Fx, Shimmer, DQx, and DFx. Men had significantly higher Qx and DQx than women, but had significantly lower Shimmer than women. However, there was no sex effect on Jitter. The task effects on Qx and SPL as well as DQx and DAx were also assessed. Qx and SPL were significantly higher than DQx and DAx in both gender. This study showed that the closed quotients in both vowel sustaining and sentence reading tasks were significantly related to other voice quality parameters. Therefore, clinicians and researchers should describe the voice quality parameters like fundamental frequency, sound pressure level, Jitter, Shimmer, and so on when reporting closed quotients using EGG.

• 한국정보통신학회논문지
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• 제22권12호
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• pp.1659-1666
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• 2018

입력된 소리가 음성과 음향이 혼재된 경우 잡음의 영향으로 음성 인식률이 저하됨을 알 수 있으며 S/W적 처리 한계를 극복코자 H/W 장치인 MEMS 장치를 개발하여 음성 인식률을 향상시켰다. MEMS 마이크로폰 장치는 음성을 입력하는 장치로서 다양한 모양으로 구현되어 사용된다. 기존 MEMS 마이크로폰은 일반적으로 우수한 성능을 발휘하나 잡음 과 같은 특수 환경에선 음성과 음향이 혼재되어 처리 성능이 저하되는 문제점이 발생됨을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 문제점을 개선코자 초기 입력장치에 음성 특성을 구분하여 검출할 수 있는 신규 고안된 MEMS 장치를 사용하여 향상시켰다.

• 대한음성언어의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한음성언어의학회 1995년도 제4회 학술대회 심포지움 및 워크샵
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• pp.128-136
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• 1995

Diagnostic evaluation for voice disorders requires a multidimensional approach : physiological examination of the larynx and the vocal tract, aerodynamic studies, examinations of vocal fold vibrations, psychoacoustic evaluations, acoustical analyses, and so on. Previous studies with the use of a computer system suggested that the acoustic evaluation is quite promising for differentiating some causative diseases of voice disorders(Hiki et al., 1975a, b, 1976 ; Kakita et al., 1980). However, a well-equipped computer system for acoustic analysis is very expensive and not available in most voice clinics. A sound spectrograph is available in many voice clinics. (omitted)

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.291-305
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• 2020

Purpose : The duration of speech segments reflects children's speech motor development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether segmental sound and word duration varies by age among preschool children. Methods : A total of 60 children aged 4~5 years participated in this study. Participants took the picture-naming test to produce single-word speech data. The duration of the consonant at the initial position of the word and the final position of the word, the voice onset time of plosive, the duration of the vowel following the initial consonant, and the duration of the word were measured. Results : As age increased, the duration of the initial consonant, the duration of the word, and the voice onset time decreased significantly. The main effects of age, manner of articulation, and place of articulation on the duration of the initial consonant were significant. The duration of consonants in the nasal sound and plosives and the duration of bilabial and alveolar sound differed significantly between groups. The main effects of age and vocal type on voice onset time were significant. The main effect of age on the duration of the consonant in the final position of word and on the duration of the vowel were not statistically significant. Conclusion : The results of this study showed that the duration of segmental sound and the word were associated with speech development between 4 and 5 years old. Accordingly, duration of the segmental sound and the word may serve as an acoustic cue as they reflect speech development and speech motor control maturity.