SpeechMatch Visual Feedback for ASD Speech Pattern Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face challenges in understanding the effect of their communications on others and interpreting non-content aspects of speech, leading to difficulties in social interactions and communication, resulting in social isolation.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that processes audio input by converting it into quantization representations of amplitude, rhythm, and pitch frequency, providing visual feedback to help users match these parameters, using a device such as a smartphone or tablet with the 'SpeechMatch' software program, which offers immediate scoring and data storage for future analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual feedback of speech parameters is provided to individuals with ASD, then their ability to understand and match speech patterns improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech pattern matching accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a computational device as an intermediary that processes acoustic input and generates visual representations of speech parameters. This mediator translates complex acoustic data into comprehensible visual feedback, enabling individuals with ASD to understand speech patterns without requiring direct complex analysis capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or manual speech analysis methods with computational processing. The system uses algorithms to automatically extract and visualize acoustic parameters such as amplitude, frequency, and temporal patterns, substituting complex computational mechanisms for simpler visual presentation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If real-time visual feedback is provided during speech practice, then learning effectiveness improves, but the loss of time for processing and feedback increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelearning efficiencyVSAvoidfeedback processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing of acoustic data during the user's speech input, extracting relevant parameters in real-time rather than analyzing complete speech segments afterward. This allows feedback to be generated continuously without significant delay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuous processing and feedback delivery throughout the speech practice session. The visual representation updates continuously as the user speaks, ensuring uninterrupted learning feedback without breaks or delays that would interrupt the learning flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11315588B2Communication system for processing audio input with visual display

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 TAUB ROBERT

AI summary

A reference acoustic input is processed into a quantization representation such that the quantization representation comprises acoustic components determined from the reference acoustic input, wherein the acoustic components comprise amplitude, rhythm, and pitch frequency of the reference acoustic input. A visual representation is generated that simultaneously depicts the acoustic components comprising amplitude, rhythm, and pitch frequency of the reference acoustic input. A user spoken input may be received and similarly processed and displayed.