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Talking back to big bird: Preschool users and a simple speech recognition system

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Abstract

The present study examined the effectiveness of one configuration of automatic speech recognition (ASR) software and hardware with a child sample of 36 three-year-olds and a comparison sample of 20 adults. Subjects used a speaker-dependent, template-based system to play a simple “Sesame Street” naming game. Results indicated that while the system performed well with adults, it was much less effective with children. An analysis of the children's performances indicates that children's speech is more variable, in both volume and content, than that of adults. The ASR system responded ineffectively to this variability, resulting in inferior performance. Specific behaviors and their effects on the ASR system are identified, and possible system modifications that address these behaviors are noted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Television Workshop, USA

    Erik F. Strommen

  2. AT&T Bell Laboratories, USA

    Francine S. Frome

Authors
  1. Erik F. Strommen
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  2. Francine S. Frome
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Strommen, E.F., Frome, F.S. Talking back to big bird: Preschool users and a simple speech recognition system. ETR&D 41, 5–16 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02297088

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