Your Computer As Your Singing Coach

Roland Piquepaille writes "Israeli researchers have developed an electronic ear to coach vibrato technique. Until now, the quality of a vibrato — the pulsating change of pitch in a singer's voice — could only be judged by voice experts. Now, a Tel Aviv University research team 'has successfully managed to train a computer to rate vibrato quality, and has created an application based on biofeedback to help singers improve their technique.' Interestingly, this research could be used for other applications, such as improving automated help centers, where computers could be trained 'to recognize a range of different emotions, such as anger and nervousness.'"

Automated help centers?

[DigitAl56K]

Interestingly, this research could be used for other applications, such as improving automated help centers, where computers could be trained 'to recognize a range of different emotions, such as anger and nervousness.

This task should be quite easy. Frustration and anger are the only two emotions I tend to experience when I get through to an automated help center. It would be a better investment of time to evaluate how long I spend interfacing with the system, how many times I have to re-navigate the menu hierarchy, how many times I have to call back and start over, how many actual people I end up being directed to, how many times I have to restate the same information and how long I spend talking to someone before I solve my problem, if I ever do. .. but I'm not bitter..

Even easier

[Serenissima]

They could also just listen for:
"Goddamnit!"
"You piece of shit!"
or the always indicative "FUCK!"

Just by checking for those 3 phrases, they should be able to ID an angry caller with at least a 99% positive rate.

cheaters!

[ILuvRamen]

I've said it once, I'll say it again...vibrato is just cheating when you can't sing the actual pitch. Seriously, just pick a note and sing it. What's so wrong about that?

Re:cheaters!

[st33med]

Want bad vibrato and notes? Listen to any American Idol entry. Instant ear bleed. In a bad way.

Vocal vibrato? Where's my earplugs?

[Geak]

It should be programmed to give a poor score for using a vibrato. I don't know about you but I can't stand it when I go to a ball game and have to tolerate a 40 minute version of the national anthem because the singer vibratos every line of the song for a full minute.

eg: "The land of the FRE-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E............."

Personally I consider it a mockery of the anthem.