annotate docs/WAC2016/WAC2016.tex @ 771:0796d28701ae

Start tidy up of core.js
author Nicholas Jillings <n.g.r.jillings@se14.qmul.ac.uk>
date Mon, 07 Dec 2015 12:15:43 +0000
parents d7f2912bf487
children 888292c88c33
rev   line source
n@767 1 \documentclass{sig-alternate}
n@767 2 \usepackage{hyperref} % make links (like references, links to Sections, ...) clickable
n@767 3 \usepackage{enumitem} % tighten itemize etc by appending '[noitemsep,nolistsep]'
n@767 4 \usepackage{cleveref}
n@767 5
n@767 6 \graphicspath{{img/}} % put the images in this folder
n@767 7
n@767 8 \begin{document}
n@767 9
n@767 10 % Copyright
n@767 11 \setcopyright{waclicense}
n@767 12
n@767 13 \newcommand*\rot{\rotatebox{90}}
n@767 14
n@767 15
n@767 16 %% DOI
n@767 17 %\doi{10.475/123_4}
n@767 18 %
n@767 19 %% ISBN
n@767 20 %\isbn{123-4567-24-567/08/06}
n@767 21 %
n@767 22 %%Conference
n@767 23 %\conferenceinfo{PLDI '13}{June 16--19, 2013, Seattle, WA, USA}
n@767 24 %
n@767 25 %\acmPrice{\$15.00}
n@767 26
n@767 27 %
n@767 28 % --- Author Metadata here ---
n@767 29 \conferenceinfo{Web Audio Conference WAC-2016,}{April 4--6, 2016, Atlanta, USA}
n@767 30 \CopyrightYear{2016} % Allows default copyright year (20XX) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
n@767 31 %\crdata{0-12345-67-8/90/01} % Allows default copyright data (0-89791-88-6/97/05) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
n@767 32 % --- End of Author Metadata ---
n@767 33
n@767 34 \title{Web Audio Evaluation Tool: A framework for subjective assessment of audio}
n@767 35 %\subtitle{[Extended Abstract]
n@767 36 %\titlenote{A full version of this paper is available as
n@767 37 %\textit{Author's Guide to Preparing ACM SIG Proceedings Using
n@767 38 %\LaTeX$2_\epsilon$\ and BibTeX} at
n@767 39 %\texttt{www.acm.org/eaddress.htm}}}
n@767 40 %
n@767 41 % You need the command \numberofauthors to handle the 'placement
n@767 42 % and alignment' of the authors beneath the title.
n@767 43 %
n@767 44 % For aesthetic reasons, we recommend 'three authors at a time'
n@767 45 % i.e. three 'name/affiliation blocks' be placed beneath the title.
n@767 46 %
n@767 47 % NOTE: You are NOT restricted in how many 'rows' of
n@767 48 % "name/affiliations" may appear. We just ask that you restrict
n@767 49 % the number of 'columns' to three.
n@767 50 %
n@767 51 % Because of the available 'opening page real-estate'
n@767 52 % we ask you to refrain from putting more than six authors
n@767 53 % (two rows with three columns) beneath the article title.
n@767 54 % More than six makes the first-page appear very cluttered indeed.
n@767 55 %
n@767 56 % Use the \alignauthor commands to handle the names
n@767 57 % and affiliations for an 'aesthetic maximum' of six authors.
n@767 58 % Add names, affiliations, addresses for
n@767 59 % the seventh etc. author(s) as the argument for the
n@767 60 % \additionalauthors command.
n@767 61 % These 'additional authors' will be output/set for you
n@767 62 % without further effort on your part as the last section in
n@767 63 % the body of your article BEFORE References or any Appendices.
n@767 64
n@767 65 % FIVE authors instead of four, to leave space between first two authors.
n@767 66 \numberofauthors{5} % in this sample file, there are a *total*
n@767 67 % of EIGHT authors. SIX appear on the 'first-page' (for formatting
n@767 68 % reasons) and the remaining two appear in the \additionalauthors section.
n@767 69 %
n@767 70 \author{
n@767 71 % You can go ahead and credit any number of authors here,
n@767 72 % e.g. one 'row of three' or two rows (consisting of one row of three
n@767 73 % and a second row of one, two or three).
n@767 74 %
n@767 75 % The command \alignauthor (no curly braces needed) should
n@767 76 % precede each author name, affiliation/snail-mail address and
n@767 77 % e-mail address. Additionally, tag each line of
n@767 78 % affiliation/address with \affaddr, and tag the
n@767 79 % e-mail address with \email.
n@767 80 %
n@767 81 % 1st. author
n@767 82 \alignauthor Nicholas Jillings\\
n@767 83 \email{n.g.r.jillings@se14.qmul.ac.uk}
n@767 84 % dummy author for nicer spacing
n@767 85 \alignauthor
n@767 86 % 2nd. author
n@767 87 \alignauthor Brecht De Man\\
n@767 88 \email{b.deman@qmul.ac.uk}
n@767 89 \and % use '\and' if you need 'another row' of author names
n@767 90 % 3rd. author
n@767 91 \alignauthor David Moffat\\
n@767 92 \email{d.j.moffat@qmul.ac.uk}
n@767 93 % 4th. author
n@767 94 \alignauthor Joshua D. Reiss\\
n@767 95 \email{joshua.reiss@qmul.ac.uk}
n@767 96 \and % new line for address
n@767 97 \affaddr{Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science}\\
n@767 98 \affaddr{Queen Mary University of London}\\
n@767 99 \affaddr{Mile End Road,}
n@767 100 \affaddr{London E1 4NS}\\
n@767 101 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
n@767 102 }
n@767 103 %Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London
n@767 104 %% 5th. author
n@767 105 %\alignauthor Sean Fogarty\\
n@767 106 % \affaddr{NASA Ames Research Center}\\
n@767 107 % \affaddr{Moffett Field}\\
n@767 108 % \email{fogartys@amesres.org}
n@767 109 %% 6th. author
n@767 110 %\alignauthor Charles Palmer\\
n@767 111 % \affaddr{Palmer Research Laboratories}\\
n@767 112 % \affaddr{8600 Datapoint Drive}\\
n@767 113 % \email{cpalmer@prl.com}
n@767 114 %}
n@767 115 % There's nothing stopping you putting the seventh, eighth, etc.
n@767 116 % author on the opening page (as the 'third row') but we ask,
n@767 117 % for aesthetic reasons that you place these 'additional authors'
n@767 118 % in the \additional authors block, viz.
n@767 119 %\additionalauthors{Additional authors: John Smith (The Th{\o}rv{\"a}ld Group,
n@767 120 %email: {\texttt{jsmith@affiliation.org}}) and Julius P.~Kumquat
n@767 121 %(The Kumquat Consortium, email: {\texttt{jpkumquat@consortium.net}}).}
n@767 122 \date{1 October 2015}
n@767 123 % Just remember to make sure that the TOTAL number of authors
n@767 124 % is the number that will appear on the first page PLUS the
n@767 125 % number that will appear in the \additionalauthors section.
n@767 126
n@767 127 \maketitle
n@767 128 \begin{abstract}
n@767 129
n@767 130 Perceptual listening tests are commonplace in audio research and a vital form of evaluation. Many tools exist to run such tests, however many operate one test type and are therefore limited whilst most require proprietary software. Using Web Audio the Web Audio Evaluation Tool (WAET) addresses these concerns by having one toolbox which can be configured to run many different tests, perform it through a web browser and without needing proprietary software or computer programming knowledge. In this paper the role of the Web Audio API in giving WAET key functionalities are shown. The paper also highlights less common features, available to web based tools, such as easy remote testing environment and in-browser analytics.
n@767 131
n@767 132 \end{abstract}
n@767 133
n@767 134
n@767 135 \section{Introduction}
n@767 136
n@767 137 % Listening tests/perceptual audio evaluation: what are they, why are they important
n@767 138 % As opposed to limited scope of WAC15 paper: also musical features, realism of sound effects / sound synthesis, performance of source separation and other algorithms...
n@767 139 Perceptual evaluation of audio, in the form of listening tests, is a powerful way to assess anything from audio codec quality to realism of sound synthesis to the performance of source separation, automated music production and other auditory evaluations.
n@767 140 In less technical areas, the framework of a listening test can be used to measure emotional response to music or test cognitive abilities.
n@767 141 % maybe some references? If there's space.
n@767 142
n@767 143 % check out http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-015-0270-8 - only paper that cited WAC15 paper
n@767 144
n@767 145 % Why difficult? Challenges? What constitutes a good interface?
n@767 146 % Technical, interfaces, user friendliness, reliability
n@767 147 Several applications for performing perceptual listening tests currently exist. A review of existing listening test frameworks was undertaken and presented in~\Cref{tab:toolboxes}. Note that many rely on proprietary, 3rd party software such as MATLAB and MAX, making them less attractive for many. With the exception of the existing JavaScript-based toolboxes, remote deployment (web-based test hosting and result collection) is not possible.
n@767 148
n@767 149 HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} is a single example of a toolbox that presents the user with a large number of different test interfaces and allows for customisation of each test interface, without requiring knowledge of any programming language. The Web Audio Evaluation Toolbox (WAET), presented here, stands out as it does not require proprietary software or a specific platform. It also provides a wide range of interface and test types in one user friendly environment. Furthermore any test based on the default test types can be configured in the browser as well. Note that the design of an effective listening test further poses many challenges unrelated to interface design, which are beyond the scope of this paper \cite{bech}.
n@767 150
n@767 151 % Why in the browser?
n@767 152 The Web Audio API provides important features including sample level manipulation of audio streams \cite{schoeffler2015mushra} and synchronous and flexible playback. Being in the browser allows leveraging the flexible object oriented JavaScript language and native support for web documents, such as the extensible markup language (XML) which is used for configuration and test result files. Using the web also reduces deployment requirements to a basic web server with extra functionality, such as test collection and automatic processing, using PHP. As recruiting participants can be very time-consuming, and as for some tests a large number of participants is needed, browser-based tests can enable participants in multiple locations to perform the test \cite{schoeffler2015mushra}.
n@767 153
n@767 154 Both BeaqleJS \cite{beaqlejs} and mushraJS\footnote{https://github.com/akaroice/mushraJS} also operate in the browser. However, BeaqleJS does not make use of the Web Audio API and therefore lacks arbitrary manipulation of audio stream samples, and neither offer an adequately wide choice of test designs for them to be useful to many researchers. %requires programming knowledge?...
n@767 155
n@767 156 % only browser-based?
n@767 157 \begin{table*}[ht]
n@767 158 \caption{Table with existing listening test platforms and their features}
n@767 159 \small
n@767 160 \begin{center}
n@767 161 \begin{tabular}{|*{9}{l|}}
n@767 162 \hline
n@767 163 \textbf{Toolbox} & \rot{\textbf{APE}} & \rot{\textbf{BeaqleJS}} &\rot{\textbf{HULTI-GEN}} & \rot{\textbf{mushraJS}} & \rot{\textbf{MUSHRAM}} & \rot{\textbf{Scale}} & \rot{\textbf{WhisPER}} & \rot{\textbf{WAET}} \\ \hline
n@767 164 \textbf{Reference} & \cite{ape} & \cite{beaqlejs} & \cite{hultigen} & & \cite{mushram} & \cite{scale} & \cite{whisper} & \cite{waet} \\ \hline
n@767 165 \textbf{Language} & MATLAB & JS & MAX & JS & MATLAB & MATLAB & MATLAB & JS \\ \hline
n@767 166 \textbf{Remote} & & (\checkmark) & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline \hline
n@767 167 MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534) & & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 168 APE & \checkmark & & & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 169 Rank Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 170 Likert Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 171 ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116) & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 172 -50 to 50 Bipolar with ref. & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 173 Absolute Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 174 Degradation Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 175 Comparison Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 176 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 177 ITU-R 5 Continuous Impairment Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 178 Pairwise / AB Test & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 179 Multi-attribute ratings & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 180 ABX Test & & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 181 Adaptive psychophysical methods & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
n@767 182 Repertory Grid Technique & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
n@767 183 Semantic Differential & & & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark &\checkmark \\ \hline
n@767 184 n-Alternative Forced Choice & & & & & & \checkmark & & \\ \hline
n@767 185 \end{tabular}
n@767 186 \end{center}
n@767 187 \label{tab:toolboxes}
n@767 188 \end{table*}
n@767 189 %
n@767 190 %Selling points: remote tests, visualisaton, create your own test in the browser, many interfaces, few/no dependencies, flexibility
n@767 191
n@767 192 %[Talking about what we do in the various sections of this paper. Referring to \cite{waet}. ]
n@767 193 To meet the need for a cross-platform, versatile and easy-to-use listening test tool, we previously developed the Web Audio Evaluation Tool \cite{waet} which at the time of its inception was capable of running a listening test in the browser from an XML configuration file, and storing an XML file as well, with one particular interface. This has now expanded into a tool with which a wide range of listening test types can easily be constructed and set up remotely, without any need for manually altering code or configuration files, and allows visualisation of the collected results in the browser. In this paper, we discuss these different aspects and explore which future improvements would be possible.
n@767 194
n@767 195 \begin{figure}[tb]
n@767 196 \centering
n@767 197 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{interface.png}
n@767 198 \caption{A simple example of a multi-stimulus, single attribute, single rating scale test with a reference and comment fields.}
n@767 199 \label{fig:interface}
n@767 200 \end{figure}
n@767 201
n@767 202 \begin{comment}
n@767 203 % MEETING 8 OCTOBER
n@767 204 \subsection{Meeting 8 October}
n@767 205 \begin{itemize}
n@767 206 \item Do we manipulate audio?\\
n@767 207 \begin{itemize}
n@767 208 \item Add loudness equalisation? (test\_create.html) Tag with gains.
n@767 209 \item Add volume slider?
n@767 210 \item Cross-fade (in interface node): default 0, number of seconds
n@767 211 \item Also: we use the playback buffer to present metrics of which portion is listened to
n@767 212 \end{itemize}
n@767 213 \item Logging system information: whichever are possible (justify others)
n@767 214 \item Input streams as audioelements
n@767 215 \item Capture microphone to estimate loudness (especially Macbook)
n@767 216 \item Test page (in-built oscillators): left-right calibration, ramp up test tone until you hear it; optional compensating EQ (future work implementing own filters) --> Highlight issues!
n@767 217 \item Record IP address (PHP function, grab and append to XML file)
n@767 218 \item Expand anchor/reference options
n@767 219 \item AB / ABX
n@767 220 \end{itemize}
n@767 221
n@767 222 \subsubsection{Issues}
n@767 223 \begin{itemize}
n@767 224 \item Filters not consistent (Nick to test across browsers)
n@767 225 \item Playback audiobuffers need to be destroyed and rebuilt each time
n@767 226 \item Can't get channel data, hardware input/output...
n@767 227 \end{itemize}
n@767 228 \end{comment}
n@767 229
n@767 230 \section{Architecture} % title? 'back end'? % NICK
n@767 231 \label{sec:architecture}
n@767 232 %A slightly technical overview of the system. Talk about XML, JavaScript, Web Audio API, HTML5.
n@767 233
n@767 234 Although WAET uses a sparse subset of the Web Audio API functionality, its performance comes directly from it. Listening tests can convey large amounts of information other than obtaining the perceptual relationship between the audio fragments. With WAET it is possible to track which parts of the audio fragments were listened to and when, at what point in the audio stream the participant switched to a different fragment, and how a fragment's rating was adjusted over time within a session, to name a few. Not only does this allow evaluation of a wealth of perceptual aspects, but it also helps detect poor participants whose results are potentially not representative.
n@767 235
n@767 236 One of the key initial design parameters for WAET was to make the tool as open as possible to non-programmers and to this end all of the user modifiable options are included in a single XML document. This document is the specification document and can be designed either by manually writing the XML (or modifying an existing document or template) or using the included test creator. These standalone HTML pages do not require any server or internet connection and help a build the specification document. The first (test\_create.html) is for simple tests and operates step-by-step to guide the user through a drag and drop, clutter free interface. The advanced version is for more complex tests. Both models support automatic verification to ensure the XML file is valid and will highlight areas which are either incorrect and would cause an error, or options which should be removed as they are blank.
n@767 237
n@767 238 The basic test creator, Figure \ref{fig:test_create}, utilises the Web Audio API to perform quick playback checks and also allows for loudness normalisation techniques inspired from \cite{ape}. These are calculated offline by accessing the raw audio samples exposed from the buffer before being applied to the audio element as a gain attribute. Therefore the tool performs loudness normalisation without editing any audio files. Equally the gain attribute can be modified in either editor using an HTML5 slider or number box respectively.
n@767 239 \begin{comment}
n@767 240 \begin{figure}[h!]
n@767 241 \centering
n@767 242 \includegraphics[width=.45\textwidth]{test_create_2.png}
n@767 243 \caption{Screen-shot of test creator tool using drag and drop to create specification document}
n@767 244 \label{fig:test_create}
n@767 245 \end{figure}
n@767 246 \end{comment}
n@767 247
n@767 248 %Describe and/or visualise audioholder-audioelement-... structure.
n@767 249 The specification document contains the URL of the audio fragments for each test page. These fragments are downloaded asynchronously in the test and decoded offline by the Web Audio offline decoder. The resulting buffers are assigned to a custom Audio Objects node which tracks the fragment buffer, the playback \textit{bufferSourceNode}, other specification attributes including its unique test ID, the interface object(s) associated with the fragment and any metric or data collection objects. The Audio Object is controlled by an over-arching custom Audio Context node (not to be confused with the Web Audio Context). This parent JS Node allows for session wide control of the Audio Objects including starting and stopping playback of specific nodes.
n@767 250
n@767 251 The only issue with this model is the \textit{bufferNode} in the Web Audio API, implemented in the standard as a `use once' object. Once this has been played, the node must be discarded as it cannot be instructed to play the same \textit{bufferSourceNode} again. Therefore on each play request the buffer object must be created and then linked with the stored \textit{bufferSourceNode}. This is an odd behaviour for such a simple object which has no alternative except to use the HTML5 audio element. However, they do not have the ability to synchronously start on a given time and therefore not suited.
n@767 252
n@767 253 In the test, each buffer node is connected to a gain node which will operate at the level determined by the specification document. Therefore it is possible to perform a `Method of Adjustment' test where an interface could directly manipulate these gain nodes. These gain nodes are used for cross-fading between samples when operating in synchronous playback. Cross-fading can either be fade-out fade-in or a true cross-fade. There is also an optional `Master Volume' slider which can be shown on the test GUI. This slider modifies a gain node before the destination node. This slider can also be monitored and therefore its data tracked providing extra validation. This is not indicative of the final volume exiting the speakers and therefore its use should only be considered in a lab environment to ensure proper usage.
n@767 254
n@767 255 %Which type of files? WAV, anything else? Perhaps not exhaustive list, but say something along the lines of 'whatever browser supports'. Compatability?
n@767 256 The media files supported depend on the browser level support for the initial decoding of information and is the same as the browser support for the HTML5 audio element. The most widely supported media file is the wave (.WAV) format which is accepted by every browser supporting the Web Audio API. The toolbox will work in any browser which supports the Web Audio API.
n@767 257
n@767 258 All the collected session data is returned in an XML document structured similarly to the configuration document, where test pages contain the audio elements with their trace collection, results, comments and any other interface-specific data points.
n@767 259
n@767 260 \section{Remote tests} % with previous?
n@767 261 \label{sec:remote}
n@767 262
n@767 263 If the experimenter is willing to trade some degree of control for a higher number of participants, the test can be hosted on a public web server so that participants can take part remotely. This way, a link can be shared widely in the hope of attracting a large amount of subjects, while listening conditions and subject reliability may be less ideal. However, a sound system calibration page and a wide range of metrics logged during the test mitigate these problems. In some experiments, it may be preferred that the subject has a `real life', familiar listening set-up, for instance when perceived quality differences on everyday sound systems are investigated.
n@767 264 Furthermore, a fully browser-based test, where the collection of the results is automatic, is more efficient and technically reliable even when the test still takes place under lab conditions.
n@767 265
n@767 266 The following features allow easy and effective remote testing:
n@767 267 \begin{description}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
n@767 268 \item[PHP script to collect result XML files] and store on central server.
n@767 269 \item[Randomly pick a specified number of pages] to ensure an equal and randomised spread of the different pages (`audioHolders') across participants.
n@767 270 \item[Calibration of the sound system (and participant)] by a perceptual pre-test to gather information about the frequency response and speaker configuration - this can be supplemented with a survey.
n@767 271 % In theory calibration could be applied anywhere??
n@767 272 % \item Functionality to participate multiple times
n@767 273 % \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
n@767 274 % \item Possible to log in with unique ID (no password)
n@767 275 % \item Pick `new user' (generates new, unique ID) or `already participated' (need already available ID)
n@767 276 % \item Store XML on server with IDs plus which audioholders have already been listened to
n@767 277 % \item Don't show `post-test' survey after first time
n@767 278 % \item Pick `new' audioholders if available
n@767 279 % \item Copy survey information first time to new XMLs
n@767 280 % \end{itemize}
n@767 281 \item[Intermediate saves] for tests which were interrupted or unfinished.
n@767 282 \item[Collect IP address information] for geographic location, through PHP function which grabs address and appends to XML file.
n@767 283 \item[Collect Browser and Display information] to the extent it is available and reliable.
n@767 284 \end{description}
n@767 285
n@767 286
n@767 287 \section{Interfaces} % title? 'Front end'? % Dave
n@767 288 \label{sec:interfaces}
n@767 289
n@767 290 The purpose of this listening test framework is to allow any user the maximum flexibility to design a listening test for their exact application with minimum effort. To this end, a large range of standard listening test interfaces have been implemented.
n@767 291
n@767 292 To provide users with a flexible system, a large range of `standard' listening test interfaces have been implemented, including: % pretty much the same wording as two sentences earlier
n@767 293 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
n@767 294 \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
n@767 295 \begin{comment}
n@767 296 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
n@767 297 \item Multiple stimuli are presented and rated on a continuous scale, which includes a reference, hidden reference and hidden anchors.
n@767 298 \end{itemize}
n@767 299 \end{comment}
n@767 300 \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}: stimuli ranked on single horizontal scale, where they are ordered in preference order.
n@767 301 \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}: each stimuli has a five point scale with values: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree and Strongly Disagree.
n@767 302 \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116} (Mean Opinion Score: MOS): each stimulus has a continuous scale (5-1), labeled as Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying.
n@767 303 \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref: each stimulus has a continuous scale -50 to 50 with default values as 0 in middle and a reference.
n@767 304 \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: Likert but labels are Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent
n@767 305 \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: ABC \& Likert but labels are (5) Inaudible, (4) Audible but not annoying, (3) slightly annoying, (2) annoying, (1) very annoying.
n@767 306 \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: ACR \& DCR but 7 point scale: Much Better, Better, Slightly Better, About the same, slightly worse, worse, much worse. There is also a provided reference.
n@767 307 \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}: each stimuli has a seven point scale with values: Like Extremely, Like Very Much, Like Moderate, Like Slightly, Neither Like nor Dislike, dislike Extremely, dislike Very Much, dislike Moderate, dislike Slightly. There is also a provided reference.
n@767 308 \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}: Same as ABC/HR but with a reference.
n@767 309 \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}: every stimulus is rated as being either better or worse than the reference.
n@767 310 \item APE style \cite{ape}: Multiple stimuli as points on a 2D plane for inter-sample rating (eg. Valence Arousal)
n@767 311 \item AB Test~\cite{lipshitz1981great}: Two stimuli presented at a time, participant selects a preferred stimulus.
n@767 312 \item ABX Test~\cite{clark1982high}: Two stimuli are presented along with a reference and the participant has to select a preferred stimulus, often the closest to the reference.
n@767 313 \end{itemize}
n@767 314
n@767 315 It is possible to include any number of references, anchors, hidden references and hidden anchors into all of these listening test formats.
n@767 316
n@767 317 Because of the design to separate the core code and interface modules, it is possible for a 3rd party interface to be built with minimal effort. The repository includes documentation on which functions must be called and the specific functions they expect your interface to perform. The core includes an `Interface' object which includes object prototypes for the on-page comment boxes (including those with radio or checkbox responses), start and stop buttons and the playhead / transport bars.
n@767 318
n@767 319 %%%% \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
n@767 320 %%%% \item (APE style) \cite{ape}
n@767 321 %%%% \item Multi attribute ratings
n@767 322 %%%% \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
n@767 323 %%%% \item Interval Scale~\cite{zacharov1999round}
n@767 324 %%%% \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}
n@767 325 %%%%
n@767 326 %%%% \item 2D Plane rating - e.g. Valence vs. Arousal~\cite{carroll1969individual}
n@767 327 %%%% \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}
n@767 328 %%%%
n@767 329 %%%% \item {\bf All the following are the interfaces available in HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} }
n@767 330 %%%% \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116}
n@767 331 %%%% \begin{itemize}
n@767 332 %%%% \item Continuous Scale (5-1) Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?)
n@767 333 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 334 %%%% \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref
n@767 335 %%%% \begin{itemize}
n@767 336 %%%% \item Scale -50 to 50 on Mushra with default values as 0 in middle and a comparison ``Reference'' to compare to 0 value
n@767 337 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 338 %%%% \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
n@767 339 %%%% \begin{itemize}
n@767 340 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent (Default fair?)
n@767 341 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 342 %%%% \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
n@767 343 %%%% \begin{itemize}
n@767 344 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Inaudible, Audible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?) - {\it Basically just quantised ABC/HR?}
n@767 345 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 346 %%%% \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
n@767 347 %%%% \begin{itemize}
n@767 348 %%%% \item 7 point scale: Much Better, Better, Slightly Better, About the same, slightly worse, worse, much worse - Default about the same with reference to compare to
n@767 349 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 350 %%%% \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}
n@767 351 %%%% \begin{itemize}
n@767 352 %%%% \item 9 point scale: Like Extremely, Like Very Much, Like Moderate, Like Slightly, Neither Like nor Dislike, dislike Extremely, dislike Very Much, dislike Moderate, dislike Slightly - Default Neither Like nor Dislike with reference to compare to
n@767 353 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 354 %%%% \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}
n@767 355 %%%% \begin{itemize}
n@767 356 %%%% \item 5 point Scale (5-1) Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?)- {\it Basically just quantised ABC/HR, or Different named DCR}
n@767 357 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 358 %%%% \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}
n@767 359 %%%% \begin{itemize}
n@767 360 %%%% \item 2 point Scale - Better or Worse - (not sure how to default this - they default everything to better, which is an interesting choice)
n@767 361 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 362 %%%% \end{itemize}
n@767 363
n@767 364 % Build your own test
n@767 365
n@767 366 \begin{comment}
n@767 367 { \bf A screenshot would be nice.
n@767 368
n@767 369 Established tests (see below) included as `presets' in the build-your-own-test page. }
n@767 370 \end{comment}
n@767 371
n@767 372 \section{Analysis and diagnostics}
n@767 373 \label{sec:analysis}
n@767 374 % don't mention Python scripts
n@767 375 There are several benefits to providing basic analysis tools in the browser: they allow diagnosing problems, with the interface or with the test subject; they may be sufficient for many researchers' purposes; and test subjects may enjoy seeing an overview of their own results and/or results thus far at the end of their tests.
n@767 376 \begin{figure}[bhf]
n@767 377 \centering
n@767 378 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{boxplot.png}
n@767 379 %\caption{This timeline of a single subject's listening test shows playback of fragments (red segments) and marker movements on the rating axis in function of time. }
n@767 380 \caption{Box and whisker plot showing the aggregated numerical ratings of six stimuli by a group of subjects.}
n@767 381 \label{fig:timeline}
n@767 382 \end{figure}
n@767 383 For this reason, we include a proof-of-concept web page with:
n@767 384 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
n@767 385 \item All audioholder IDs, file names, subject IDs, audio element IDs, ... in the collected XMLs so far (\texttt{saves/*.xml})
n@767 386 \item Selection of subjects and/or test samples to zoom in on a subset of the data %Check/uncheck each of the above for analysis (e.g. zoom in on a certain song, or exclude a subset of subjects)
n@767 387 \item Embedded audio to hear corresponding test samples % (follow path in XML setup file, which is also embedded in the XML result file)
n@767 388 \item Scatter plot, confidence plot and box plot of rating values (see Figure )
n@767 389 \item Timeline for a specific subject %(see Figure \ref{fig:timeline})%, perhaps re-playing the experiment in X times realtime. (If actual realtime, you could replay the audio...)
n@767 390 \item Distribution plots of any radio button and number questions in pre- and post-test survey %(drop-down menu with `pretest', `posttest', ...; then drop-down menu with question `IDs' like `gender', `age', ...; make pie chart/histogram of these values over selected range of XMLs)
n@767 391 \item All `comments' on a specific audioelement
n@767 392 \item A `download' function for a CSV of ratings, survey responses and comments% various things (values, survey responses, comments) people might want to use for analysis, e.g. when XML scares them
n@767 393 %\item Validation of setup XMLs (easily spot `errors', like duplicate IDs or URLs, missing/dangling tags, ...)
n@767 394 \end{itemize}
n@767 395
n@767 396
n@767 397 %A subset of the above would already be nice for this paper.
n@767 398 \section{Concluding remarks and future work}
n@767 399 \label{sec:conclusion}
n@767 400
n@767 401 We have developed a browser-based tool for the design and deployment of listening tests, essentially requiring no programming experience and third party software. Following the predictions or guidelines in \cite{schoeffler2015mushra}, it supports remote testing, cross-fading between audio streams, collecting information about the system, among others.
n@767 402
n@767 403 Whereas many other types of interfaces do exist, we felt that supporting e.g. a range of `method of adjustment' tests would be beyond the scope of a tool that aims to be versatile enough while not claiming to support any custom experiment one might want to set up. Rather, it supports any non-adaptive listening test up to multi-stimulus, multi-attribute evaluation including references, anchors, text boxes, radio buttons and/or checkboxes, with arbitrary placement of the various UI elements.
n@767 404
n@767 405 The code and documentation can be pulled or downloaded from our online repository available at \url{code.soundsoftware.ac.uk/projects/webaudioevaluationtool}.
n@767 406 % remote
n@767 407 % language support (not explicitly stated)
n@767 408 % crossfades
n@767 409 % choosing speakers/sound device from within browser? --- NOT POSSIBLE, can only determine channel output counts and its up to the hardware to determine
n@767 410 % collect information about software and sound system
n@767 411 % buttons, scales, ... UI elements
n@767 412 % must be able to load uncompressed PCM
n@767 413
n@767 414 %
n@767 415 % The following two commands are all you need in the
n@767 416 % initial runs of your .tex file to
n@767 417 % produce the bibliography for the citations in your paper.
n@767 418 \bibliographystyle{ieeetr}
n@767 419 \small
n@767 420 \bibliography{WAC2016} % sigproc.bib is the name of the Bibliography in this case
n@767 421 % You must have a proper ".bib" file
n@767 422 % and remember to run:
n@767 423 % latex bibtex latex latex
n@767 424 % to resolve all references
n@767 425 %
n@767 426 % ACM needs 'a single self-contained file'!
n@767 427 %
n@767 428 \end{document}