Opti-Speech: A Real-Time, 3d Visual Feedback System For Speech Training

We describe an interactive 3D system to provide talkers with real-time information concerning their tongue and jaw movements during speech. Speech movement is tracked by a magnetometer system (Wave; NDI, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada). A customized interface allows users to view their current tongue position (represented as an avatar consisting of flesh-point markers and a modeled surface) placed in a synchronously moving, transparent head. Subjects receive augmented visual feedback when tongue sensors achieve the correct place of articulation. Preliminary data obtained for a group of adult talkers suggest this system can be used to reliably provide real-time feedback for American English consonant place of articulation targets. Future studies, including tests with communication disordered subjects, are described.