A high-speed data translator for computer simulation of speech and television devices

Abstract

This paper describes a data translator which, when used with a digital computer, permits simulation of speech- and television-processing devices. The usual function of such devices is to realize efficient codings of information-bearing signals thereby economizing on transmission requirements. The merit of any particular coding must be based upon human judgment. Such subjective reactions can seldom be predicted by analytical means. For example, the evaluation of speech-transmission systems relies heavily upon quality and intelligibility tests using human observers. Thus, instrumentation of operating models to generate test speech samples invariably becomes a part of any such evaluation. In addition to transmission codings, signal-processing devices have been used to investigate automatic recognition of abstractions such as phonetic elements in speech or geometrical figures. Such recognition functions typically require even more extensive instrumentation.