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AI benefits from measured non-linearity

Researchers found that dosed nonlinearity improves model performance in various tasks, especially with limited data. Nonlinear units function like flexible switches, adapting linear processing modes based on context.

Can Amazon Alexa or Google Home help detect Parkinson’s?

Researchers developed an AI-based screening tool using pangrams to detect Parkinson’s disease with nearly 86 percent accuracy. The web-based test analyzes voice recordings for subtle patterns linked to the neurodegenerative disease, identifying potential warning signs.

Do dogs understand words from AIC buttons?

A new study published in Scientific Reports reveals that audio quality severely affects dogs' ability to recognize and respond to recorded words. Dogs excelled at responding to direct human speech, but struggled with AIC buttons, which lost frequencies necessary for conveying human speech.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Protecting audio privacy at the source

Researchers created a lightweight filter that can run on small microcontrollers, identifying and removing likely speech content from audio data before it's sent off the device. This helps balance utility and privacy, enabling devices like smart speakers to prioritize user security while still offering valuable sensing capabilities.

Towards a fully automated approach for assessing English proficiency

A new study by Doshisha University demonstrates the feasibility and reliability of fully automated speaking tests for English language learners, enabling more frequent evaluation and larger-scale studies. The approach uses AI-powered speech recognition and computational metrics to assess language proficiency.

Paralyzed man moves robotic arm with his thoughts

Researchers at UC San Francisco have enabled a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm through a device that relays signals from his brain to a computer. The device, known as a brain-computer interface (BCI), worked for a record 7 months without needing to be adjusted.

It’s not just what you say – it’s also how you say it

A Northwestern University study discovered a region of the brain processes subtle changes in voice pitch, transforming them into meaningful linguistic information that guides human understanding. The findings challenge long-held assumptions about speech perception and have implications for speech rehabilitation, AI-powered voice assist...

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

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Automatic speech recognition on par with humans in noisy conditions

Researchers found that humans still outperform ASR systems in noisy environments, but Whisper large-v3 matched human performance in all tested conditions except naturalistic pub noise. The system's ability to process acoustic properties and map them to the intended message was impressive.

Heart rate activity influences when infants speak

Researchers found that babies' first vocalizations and attempts at forming words coincide with fluctuations in their heart rate. This discovery may indicate that successful speech development depends on predictable ranges of autonomic activity during infancy.

Dogs can recognize familiar speakers

Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University found that dogs can recognize their owners based on pre-recorded speech, demonstrating an ability to discriminate between familiar voices. Dogs performed well in matching the correct owner with their voice, with performance best when hearing their main owner's voice.

Developing artificial intelligence tools for health care

Researchers developed a new benchmark for health care using reinforcement learning, which shows promise in managing chronic or psychiatric diseases. However, current methods are data-hungry and fail to perform accurately when tested on real-world data.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Graz language database improves automatic speech recognition of Austrian German

Researchers at Graz University of Technology developed a new database to improve speech recognition of Austrian German using speech data from 38 speakers. They found that traditional HMM-based systems are more robust for short sentences and dialectal language, while transformer-based models excel with longer sentences and context.

Online training could help older adults communicate in noisy environments

Research by UCL experts found that online training can improve speech intelligibility for both older and younger adults, with a 30% improvement in understanding sentences spoken by new voices. The study suggests that practicing listening to regularly encountered voices could enhance everyday communication.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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GoPro HERO13 Black

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SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

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Building a better sarcasm detector #ASA186

Researchers developed a multimodal algorithm for improved sarcasm detection, examining multiple aspects of audio recordings for increased accuracy. The approach combines sentiment analysis using text and emotion recognition using audio for a comprehensive analysis.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Machine listening: Making speech recognition systems more inclusive

Researchers found that African American English speakers adjust their speech rate and pitch variation when using voice technology, adopting a slower and more monotone register to be better understood. This adaptation helps address disparities in speech recognition systems and aims to improve inclusivity for diverse language varieties.

iTalkBetter app significantly improves speech in stroke patients

A new study published in eClinicalMedicine found that the iTalkBetter app significantly improved patients' ability to talk after six weeks of use. The app provided digital speech therapy for over 200 commonly used words, with a 13% increase in naming items and improvements in spontaneous speech.

The brain processes speech and its echo separately

A recent study published in PLOS Biology found that the human brain can segregate direct speech from its echo, allowing for reliable recognition of echoic speech. This neural separation is essential for understanding conversations in noisy environments and is supported by magnetoencephalography recordings.

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Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

A brain-inspired computer model that understands speech like humans

Researchers developed a computer model based on human brain mechanisms to improve speech comprehension. The model extracts multilevel information from ongoing speech and uses non-linguistic knowledge for disambiguating word meanings. This approach is more human-like than existing language models like ChatGPT.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Voice-activated system for hands-free, safer DNA handling

Scientists have created a small, portable device that can extract and pretreat bacterial DNA using voice commands, making it easier and safer for researchers to handle potentially infectious samples. The device has shown promise in extracting DNA from Salmonella Typhimurium with an efficiency of 70% in under a minute.

Bot gives nonnative speakers the floor in videoconferencing

A new study at Cornell University introduced an automated participant that periodically interrupts the conversation to give nonnative speakers a chance to speak. The AI bot increased participation from 12% to 17% of all words spoken, with nonnative speakers feeling valued and appreciated for their perspectives.

LTI project aims to expand language technologies

A research team at Carnegie Mellon University is working to simplify data requirements for speech recognition models, aiming to reach 2,000 languages. By focusing on linguistic elements common across many languages and using a phylogenetic tree, the team hopes to eliminate the need for audio data.

Our brain is a prediction machine that is always active

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics found that our brain is a prediction machine continuously making predictions on multiple levels. They analyzed brain activity while people listened to Hemingway or Sherlock Holmes stories and text, finding the brain response was stronger when words were unexpected in context.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Machine learning improves human speech recognition

Researchers developed a machine learning model that provides good predictions for human speech recognition in noisy environments, benefiting hearing-impaired listeners. The model outperformed expectations and showed strong correlations with measured data.

MU earns $12 million in grants to boost science education, literacy

University of Missouri researchers are using a video game to teach middle schoolers about science and improving literacy outcomes for second graders through speech recognition software. The programs aim to increase student engagement and prepare them for future careers in various fields.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Automated speech recognition and racial bias

Researchers found that state-of-the-art ASR systems performed worse on black speakers than white speakers, with error rates of 0.35 and 0.19 words per hour respectively. The study attributes these disparities to limitations in the acoustic models' ability to capture African American Vernacular English pronunciation and prosody.

Grainger engineers voice localization techniques for smart speakers

Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a system called VoLoc that uses microphone array recordings and room echoes to infer user location within a home. This technology can improve smart devices' support for available skills, such as turn-on-light or increase-temperature commands.

Sound deprivation in one ear leads to speech recognition difficulties

A new study suggests that chronic conductive hearing loss due to middle-ear infections can lead to neural deficits and difficulties in noisy environments. Researchers found patients with longstanding conductive hearing impairment had lower speech-recognition scores on the affected side, even when speech was audible.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Sound sense: Brain 'listens' for distinctive features in sounds

Researchers developed a computational model that explores how the auditory system achieves accurate speech recognition by identifying distinct categories of sounds. The model found that the brain looks for informative features, such as those characteristic of a face, to distinguish between different vocalizations.

RIT researchers use deep learning to help preserve the Seneca language

RIT researchers are building an automatic speech recognition application using deep learning to document and transcribe the traditional Seneca language. The project aims to support other rare or vanishing languages as well. The team has collected over 50 hours of recorded material and achieved promising results.

Researchers peer under the hoods of neural networks

Researchers used a newly developed interpretive technique to analyze neural networks trained for machine translation and speech recognition. They found that lower-level tasks, such as sound recognition or part-of-speech recognition, are prioritized before higher-level tasks like transcription or semantic interpretation.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Chip could make voice control ubiquitous in electronics

A new chip designed by MIT researchers has the potential to make voice control ubiquitous in electronics, offering significant power savings. The chip's ability to minimize memory bandwidth and compress weights associated with each node enables efficient speech recognition, making it practical for relatively simple electronic devices.

New approach may open up speech recognition to more languages

Researchers at MIT's CSAIL have developed a new system that analyzes correspondences between images and spoken descriptions to train speech-recognition systems. The system can potentially provide automatic speech recognition for less-resourced languages, leading to fully automated translation capabilities.

Speech technology enables kids to control video game

Disney researchers developed a speech technology system that can sort through overlapping speech, social side talk, and creative pronunciations of young children to make it work. The system was 85% accurate in recognizing keywords, outperforming commercial speech recognition systems.

'Data smashing' could unshackle automated discovery

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new method called 'data smashing' that enables automated discovery without human intervention, opening doors to complex observations and expert-driven analysis.

Voice prostheses can help patients regain their lost voice

Researchers have developed improved artificial voice devices that can produce age-appropriate voices for children and women with vocal cord problems. The new technology enhances speech signal analysis by tackling the challenge of identifying glottal excitation signals in higher-pitched voices.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.