annotate docs/WAC2016/WAC2016.tex @ 1099:0a15fa67bda1

First draft of AES poster
author Dave <djmoffat@users.noreply.github.com>
date Tue, 23 Feb 2016 15:19:31 +0000
parents
children b5bf2f57187c a4ad9e55b5b8
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djmoffat@1099 1 \documentclass{sig-alternate}
djmoffat@1099 2 \usepackage{hyperref} % make links (like references, links to Sections, ...) clickable
djmoffat@1099 3 \usepackage{enumitem} % tighten itemize etc by appending '[noitemsep,nolistsep]'
djmoffat@1099 4 \usepackage{cleveref}
djmoffat@1099 5
djmoffat@1099 6 \graphicspath{{img/}} % put the images in this folder
djmoffat@1099 7
djmoffat@1099 8 \begin{document}
djmoffat@1099 9
djmoffat@1099 10 % Copyright
djmoffat@1099 11 \setcopyright{waclicense}
djmoffat@1099 12
djmoffat@1099 13 \newcommand*\rot{\rotatebox{90}}
djmoffat@1099 14
djmoffat@1099 15
djmoffat@1099 16 %% DOI
djmoffat@1099 17 %\doi{10.475/123_4}
djmoffat@1099 18 %
djmoffat@1099 19 %% ISBN
djmoffat@1099 20 %\isbn{123-4567-24-567/08/06}
djmoffat@1099 21 %
djmoffat@1099 22 %%Conference
djmoffat@1099 23 %\conferenceinfo{PLDI '13}{June 16--19, 2013, Seattle, WA, USA}
djmoffat@1099 24 %
djmoffat@1099 25 %\acmPrice{\$15.00}
djmoffat@1099 26
djmoffat@1099 27 %
djmoffat@1099 28 % --- Author Metadata here ---
djmoffat@1099 29 \conferenceinfo{Web Audio Conference WAC-2016,}{April 4--6, 2016, Atlanta, USA}
djmoffat@1099 30 \CopyrightYear{2016} % Allows default copyright year (20XX) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
djmoffat@1099 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.
djmoffat@1099 32 % --- End of Author Metadata ---
djmoffat@1099 33
djmoffat@1099 34 \title{Web Audio Evaluation Tool: A framework for subjective assessment of audio}
djmoffat@1099 35 %\subtitle{[Extended Abstract]
djmoffat@1099 36 %\titlenote{A full version of this paper is available as
djmoffat@1099 37 %\textit{Author's Guide to Preparing ACM SIG Proceedings Using
djmoffat@1099 38 %\LaTeX$2_\epsilon$\ and BibTeX} at
djmoffat@1099 39 %\texttt{www.acm.org/eaddress.htm}}}
djmoffat@1099 40 %
djmoffat@1099 41 % You need the command \numberofauthors to handle the 'placement
djmoffat@1099 42 % and alignment' of the authors beneath the title.
djmoffat@1099 43 %
djmoffat@1099 44 % For aesthetic reasons, we recommend 'three authors at a time'
djmoffat@1099 45 % i.e. three 'name/affiliation blocks' be placed beneath the title.
djmoffat@1099 46 %
djmoffat@1099 47 % NOTE: You are NOT restricted in how many 'rows' of
djmoffat@1099 48 % "name/affiliations" may appear. We just ask that you restrict
djmoffat@1099 49 % the number of 'columns' to three.
djmoffat@1099 50 %
djmoffat@1099 51 % Because of the available 'opening page real-estate'
djmoffat@1099 52 % we ask you to refrain from putting more than six authors
djmoffat@1099 53 % (two rows with three columns) beneath the article title.
djmoffat@1099 54 % More than six makes the first-page appear very cluttered indeed.
djmoffat@1099 55 %
djmoffat@1099 56 % Use the \alignauthor commands to handle the names
djmoffat@1099 57 % and affiliations for an 'aesthetic maximum' of six authors.
djmoffat@1099 58 % Add names, affiliations, addresses for
djmoffat@1099 59 % the seventh etc. author(s) as the argument for the
djmoffat@1099 60 % \additionalauthors command.
djmoffat@1099 61 % These 'additional authors' will be output/set for you
djmoffat@1099 62 % without further effort on your part as the last section in
djmoffat@1099 63 % the body of your article BEFORE References or any Appendices.
djmoffat@1099 64
djmoffat@1099 65 % FIVE authors instead of four, to leave space between first two authors.
djmoffat@1099 66 \numberofauthors{6} % in this sample file, there are a *total*
djmoffat@1099 67 % of EIGHT authors. SIX appear on the 'first-page' (for formatting
djmoffat@1099 68 % reasons) and the remaining two appear in the \additionalauthors section.
djmoffat@1099 69 %
djmoffat@1099 70 \author{
djmoffat@1099 71 % You can go ahead and credit any number of authors here,
djmoffat@1099 72 % e.g. one 'row of three' or two rows (consisting of one row of three
djmoffat@1099 73 % and a second row of one, two or three).
djmoffat@1099 74 %
djmoffat@1099 75 % The command \alignauthor (no curly braces needed) should
djmoffat@1099 76 % precede each author name, affiliation/snail-mail address and
djmoffat@1099 77 % e-mail address. Additionally, tag each line of
djmoffat@1099 78 % affiliation/address with \affaddr, and tag the
djmoffat@1099 79 % e-mail address with \email.
djmoffat@1099 80 %
djmoffat@1099 81 % 1st. author
djmoffat@1099 82 \alignauthor Nicholas Jillings\textsuperscript{2}\\
djmoffat@1099 83 \email{nicholas.jillings@mail.bcu.ac.uk}
djmoffat@1099 84 % 2nd. author
djmoffat@1099 85 \alignauthor
djmoffat@1099 86 \alignauthor Brecht De Man\textsuperscript{1}\\
djmoffat@1099 87 \email{b.deman@qmul.ac.uk}
djmoffat@1099 88 \and
djmoffat@1099 89 % use '\and' if you need 'another row' of author names
djmoffat@1099 90 % 3rd. author
djmoffat@1099 91 \alignauthor David Moffat\textsuperscript{1}\\
djmoffat@1099 92 \email{d.j.moffat@qmul.ac.uk}
djmoffat@1099 93 % 4th. author
djmoffat@1099 94 \alignauthor Joshua D. Reiss\textsuperscript{1}\\
djmoffat@1099 95 \email{joshua.reiss@qmul.ac.uk}
djmoffat@1099 96 \alignauthor Ryan Stables\textsuperscript{2}\\
djmoffat@1099 97 \email{ryan.stables@bcu.ac.uk}
djmoffat@1099 98 \and % new line for address
djmoffat@1099 99 \affaddr{Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science\textsuperscript{1}}\\
djmoffat@1099 100 \affaddr{Queen Mary University of London}\\
djmoffat@1099 101 \affaddr{Mile End Road,}
djmoffat@1099 102 \affaddr{London E1 4NS}\\
djmoffat@1099 103 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
djmoffat@1099 104 \and
djmoffat@1099 105 \affaddr{Digital Media Technology Lab\textsuperscript{2}}\\
djmoffat@1099 106 \affaddr{Birmingham City University}\\
djmoffat@1099 107 \affaddr{Birmingham B4 7XG}\\
djmoffat@1099 108 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
djmoffat@1099 109 }
djmoffat@1099 110 %Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London
djmoffat@1099 111 %% 5th. author
djmoffat@1099 112 %\alignauthor Sean Fogarty\\
djmoffat@1099 113 % \affaddr{NASA Ames Research Center}\\
djmoffat@1099 114 % \affaddr{Moffett Field}\\
djmoffat@1099 115 % \email{fogartys@amesres.org}
djmoffat@1099 116 %% 6th. author
djmoffat@1099 117 %\alignauthor Charles Palmer\\
djmoffat@1099 118 % \affaddr{Palmer Research Laboratories}\\
djmoffat@1099 119 % \affaddr{8600 Datapoint Drive}\\
djmoffat@1099 120 % \email{cpalmer@prl.com}
djmoffat@1099 121 %}
djmoffat@1099 122 % There's nothing stopping you putting the seventh, eighth, etc.
djmoffat@1099 123 % author on the opening page (as the 'third row') but we ask,
djmoffat@1099 124 % for aesthetic reasons that you place these 'additional authors'
djmoffat@1099 125 % in the \additional authors block, viz.
djmoffat@1099 126 %\additionalauthors{Additional authors: John Smith (The Th{\o}rv{\"a}ld Group,
djmoffat@1099 127 %email: {\texttt{jsmith@affiliation.org}}) and Julius P.~Kumquat
djmoffat@1099 128 %(The Kumquat Consortium, email: {\texttt{jpkumquat@consortium.net}}).}
djmoffat@1099 129 \date{1 October 2015}
djmoffat@1099 130 % Just remember to make sure that the TOTAL number of authors
djmoffat@1099 131 % is the number that will appear on the first page PLUS the
djmoffat@1099 132 % number that will appear in the \additionalauthors section.
djmoffat@1099 133
djmoffat@1099 134 \maketitle
djmoffat@1099 135 \begin{abstract}
djmoffat@1099 136
djmoffat@1099 137 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.
djmoffat@1099 138
djmoffat@1099 139 \end{abstract}
djmoffat@1099 140
djmoffat@1099 141
djmoffat@1099 142 \section{Introduction}
djmoffat@1099 143
djmoffat@1099 144 % Listening tests/perceptual audio evaluation: what are they, why are they important
djmoffat@1099 145 % As opposed to limited scope of WAC15 paper: also musical features, realism of sound effects / sound synthesis, performance of source separation and other algorithms...
djmoffat@1099 146 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.
djmoffat@1099 147 In less technical areas, the framework of a listening test can be used to measure emotional response to music or test cognitive abilities.
djmoffat@1099 148 % maybe some references? If there's space.
djmoffat@1099 149
djmoffat@1099 150 % check out http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-015-0270-8 - only paper that cited WAC15 paper
djmoffat@1099 151
djmoffat@1099 152 % Why difficult? Challenges? What constitutes a good interface?
djmoffat@1099 153 % Technical, interfaces, user friendliness, reliability
djmoffat@1099 154 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.
djmoffat@1099 155
djmoffat@1099 156 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}.
djmoffat@1099 157
djmoffat@1099 158 % Why in the browser?
djmoffat@1099 159 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}.
djmoffat@1099 160
djmoffat@1099 161 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?...
djmoffat@1099 162
djmoffat@1099 163 % only browser-based?
djmoffat@1099 164 \begin{table*}[ht]
djmoffat@1099 165 \caption{Table with existing listening test platforms and their features}
djmoffat@1099 166 \small
djmoffat@1099 167 \begin{center}
djmoffat@1099 168 \begin{tabular}{|*{9}{l|}}
djmoffat@1099 169 \hline
djmoffat@1099 170 \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
djmoffat@1099 171 \textbf{Reference} & \cite{ape} & \cite{beaqlejs} & \cite{hultigen} & & \cite{mushram} & \cite{scale} & \cite{whisper} & \cite{waet} \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 172 \textbf{Language} & MATLAB & JS & MAX & JS & MATLAB & MATLAB & MATLAB & JS \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 173 \textbf{Remote} & & (\checkmark) & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline \hline
djmoffat@1099 174 MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534) & & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 175 APE & \checkmark & & & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 176 Rank Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 177 Likert Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 178 ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116) & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 179 -50 to 50 Bipolar with ref. & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 180 Absolute Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 181 Degradation Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 182 Comparison Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 183 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 184 ITU-R 5 Continuous Impairment Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 185 Pairwise / AB Test & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 186 Multi-attribute ratings & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 187 ABX Test & & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 188 Adaptive psychophysical methods & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 189 Repertory Grid Technique & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 190 Semantic Differential & & & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark &\checkmark \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 191 n-Alternative Forced Choice & & & & & & \checkmark & & \\ \hline
djmoffat@1099 192 \end{tabular}
djmoffat@1099 193 \end{center}
djmoffat@1099 194 \label{tab:toolboxes}
djmoffat@1099 195 \end{table*}
djmoffat@1099 196 %
djmoffat@1099 197 %Selling points: remote tests, visualisaton, create your own test in the browser, many interfaces, few/no dependencies, flexibility
djmoffat@1099 198
djmoffat@1099 199 %[Talking about what we do in the various sections of this paper. Referring to \cite{waet}. ]
djmoffat@1099 200 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.
djmoffat@1099 201
djmoffat@1099 202 \begin{figure}[tb]
djmoffat@1099 203 \centering
djmoffat@1099 204 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{interface.png}
djmoffat@1099 205 \caption{A simple example of a multi-stimulus, single attribute, single rating scale test with a reference and comment fields.}
djmoffat@1099 206 \label{fig:interface}
djmoffat@1099 207 \end{figure}
djmoffat@1099 208
djmoffat@1099 209 \begin{comment}
djmoffat@1099 210 % MEETING 8 OCTOBER
djmoffat@1099 211 \subsection{Meeting 8 October}
djmoffat@1099 212 \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 213 \item Do we manipulate audio?\\
djmoffat@1099 214 \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 215 \item Add loudness equalisation? (test\_create.html) Tag with gains.
djmoffat@1099 216 \item Add volume slider?
djmoffat@1099 217 \item Cross-fade (in interface node): default 0, number of seconds
djmoffat@1099 218 \item Also: we use the playback buffer to present metrics of which portion is listened to
djmoffat@1099 219 \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 220 \item Logging system information: whichever are possible (justify others)
djmoffat@1099 221 \item Input streams as audioelements
djmoffat@1099 222 \item Capture microphone to estimate loudness (especially Macbook)
djmoffat@1099 223 \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!
djmoffat@1099 224 \item Record IP address (PHP function, grab and append to XML file)
djmoffat@1099 225 \item Expand anchor/reference options
djmoffat@1099 226 \item AB / ABX
djmoffat@1099 227 \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 228
djmoffat@1099 229 \subsubsection{Issues}
djmoffat@1099 230 \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 231 \item Filters not consistent (Nick to test across browsers)
djmoffat@1099 232 \item Playback audiobuffers need to be destroyed and rebuilt each time
djmoffat@1099 233 \item Can't get channel data, hardware input/output...
djmoffat@1099 234 \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 235 \end{comment}
djmoffat@1099 236
djmoffat@1099 237 \section{Architecture} % title? 'back end'? % NICK
djmoffat@1099 238 \label{sec:architecture}
djmoffat@1099 239 %A slightly technical overview of the system. Talk about XML, JavaScript, Web Audio API, HTML5.
djmoffat@1099 240
djmoffat@1099 241 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.
djmoffat@1099 242
djmoffat@1099 243 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.
djmoffat@1099 244
djmoffat@1099 245 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.
djmoffat@1099 246 \begin{comment}
djmoffat@1099 247 \begin{figure}[h!]
djmoffat@1099 248 \centering
djmoffat@1099 249 \includegraphics[width=.45\textwidth]{test_create_2.png}
djmoffat@1099 250 \caption{Screen-shot of test creator tool using drag and drop to create specification document}
djmoffat@1099 251 \label{fig:test_create}
djmoffat@1099 252 \end{figure}
djmoffat@1099 253 \end{comment}
djmoffat@1099 254
djmoffat@1099 255 %Describe and/or visualise audioholder-audioelement-... structure.
djmoffat@1099 256 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.
djmoffat@1099 257
djmoffat@1099 258 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.
djmoffat@1099 259
djmoffat@1099 260 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.
djmoffat@1099 261
djmoffat@1099 262 %Which type of files? WAV, anything else? Perhaps not exhaustive list, but say something along the lines of 'whatever browser supports'. Compatability?
djmoffat@1099 263 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.
djmoffat@1099 264
djmoffat@1099 265 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.
djmoffat@1099 266
djmoffat@1099 267 \section{Remote tests} % with previous?
djmoffat@1099 268 \label{sec:remote}
djmoffat@1099 269
djmoffat@1099 270 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.
djmoffat@1099 271 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.
djmoffat@1099 272
djmoffat@1099 273 The following features allow easy and effective remote testing:
djmoffat@1099 274 \begin{description}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
djmoffat@1099 275 \item[PHP script to collect result XML files] and store on central server.
djmoffat@1099 276 \item[Randomly pick a specified number of pages] to ensure an equal and randomised spread of the different pages (`audioHolders') across participants.
djmoffat@1099 277 \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.
djmoffat@1099 278 % In theory calibration could be applied anywhere??
djmoffat@1099 279 % \item Functionality to participate multiple times
djmoffat@1099 280 % \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
djmoffat@1099 281 % \item Possible to log in with unique ID (no password)
djmoffat@1099 282 % \item Pick `new user' (generates new, unique ID) or `already participated' (need already available ID)
djmoffat@1099 283 % \item Store XML on server with IDs plus which audioholders have already been listened to
djmoffat@1099 284 % \item Don't show `post-test' survey after first time
djmoffat@1099 285 % \item Pick `new' audioholders if available
djmoffat@1099 286 % \item Copy survey information first time to new XMLs
djmoffat@1099 287 % \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 288 \item[Intermediate saves] for tests which were interrupted or unfinished.
djmoffat@1099 289 \item[Collect IP address information] for geographic location, through PHP function which grabs address and appends to XML file.
djmoffat@1099 290 \item[Collect Browser and Display information] to the extent it is available and reliable.
djmoffat@1099 291 \end{description}
djmoffat@1099 292
djmoffat@1099 293
djmoffat@1099 294 \section{Interfaces} % title? 'Front end'? % Dave
djmoffat@1099 295 \label{sec:interfaces}
djmoffat@1099 296
djmoffat@1099 297 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.
djmoffat@1099 298
djmoffat@1099 299 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
djmoffat@1099 300 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
djmoffat@1099 301 \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
djmoffat@1099 302 \begin{comment}
djmoffat@1099 303 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
djmoffat@1099 304 \item Multiple stimuli are presented and rated on a continuous scale, which includes a reference, hidden reference and hidden anchors.
djmoffat@1099 305 \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 306 \end{comment}
djmoffat@1099 307 \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}: stimuli ranked on single horizontal scale, where they are ordered in preference order.
djmoffat@1099 308 \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}: each stimuli has a five point scale with values: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree and Strongly Disagree.
djmoffat@1099 309 \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.
djmoffat@1099 310 \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.
djmoffat@1099 311 \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: Likert but labels are Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent
djmoffat@1099 312 \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.
djmoffat@1099 313 \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.
djmoffat@1099 314 \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.
djmoffat@1099 315 \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}: Same as ABC/HR but with a reference.
djmoffat@1099 316 \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}: every stimulus is rated as being either better or worse than the reference.
djmoffat@1099 317 \item APE style \cite{ape}: Multiple stimuli as points on a 2D plane for inter-sample rating (eg. Valence Arousal)
djmoffat@1099 318 \item AB Test~\cite{lipshitz1981great}: Two stimuli presented at a time, participant selects a preferred stimulus.
djmoffat@1099 319 \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.
djmoffat@1099 320 \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 321
djmoffat@1099 322 It is possible to include any number of references, anchors, hidden references and hidden anchors into all of these listening test formats.
djmoffat@1099 323
djmoffat@1099 324 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.
djmoffat@1099 325
djmoffat@1099 326 %%%% \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
djmoffat@1099 327 %%%% \item (APE style) \cite{ape}
djmoffat@1099 328 %%%% \item Multi attribute ratings
djmoffat@1099 329 %%%% \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
djmoffat@1099 330 %%%% \item Interval Scale~\cite{zacharov1999round}
djmoffat@1099 331 %%%% \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}
djmoffat@1099 332 %%%%
djmoffat@1099 333 %%%% \item 2D Plane rating - e.g. Valence vs. Arousal~\cite{carroll1969individual}
djmoffat@1099 334 %%%% \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}
djmoffat@1099 335 %%%%
djmoffat@1099 336 %%%% \item {\bf All the following are the interfaces available in HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} }
djmoffat@1099 337 %%%% \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116}
djmoffat@1099 338 %%%% \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 339 %%%% \item Continuous Scale (5-1) Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?)
djmoffat@1099 340 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 341 %%%% \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref
djmoffat@1099 342 %%%% \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 343 %%%% \item Scale -50 to 50 on Mushra with default values as 0 in middle and a comparison ``Reference'' to compare to 0 value
djmoffat@1099 344 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 345 %%%% \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
djmoffat@1099 346 %%%% \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 347 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent (Default fair?)
djmoffat@1099 348 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 349 %%%% \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
djmoffat@1099 350 %%%% \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 351 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Inaudible, Audible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?) - {\it Basically just quantised ABC/HR?}
djmoffat@1099 352 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 353 %%%% \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
djmoffat@1099 354 %%%% \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 355 %%%% \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
djmoffat@1099 356 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 357 %%%% \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}
djmoffat@1099 358 %%%% \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 359 %%%% \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
djmoffat@1099 360 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 361 %%%% \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}
djmoffat@1099 362 %%%% \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 363 %%%% \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}
djmoffat@1099 364 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 365 %%%% \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}
djmoffat@1099 366 %%%% \begin{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 367 %%%% \item 2 point Scale - Better or Worse - (not sure how to default this - they default everything to better, which is an interesting choice)
djmoffat@1099 368 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 369 %%%% \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 370
djmoffat@1099 371 % Build your own test
djmoffat@1099 372
djmoffat@1099 373 \begin{comment}
djmoffat@1099 374 { \bf A screenshot would be nice.
djmoffat@1099 375
djmoffat@1099 376 Established tests (see below) included as `presets' in the build-your-own-test page. }
djmoffat@1099 377 \end{comment}
djmoffat@1099 378
djmoffat@1099 379 \section{Analysis and diagnostics}
djmoffat@1099 380 \label{sec:analysis}
djmoffat@1099 381 % don't mention Python scripts
djmoffat@1099 382 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.
djmoffat@1099 383 \begin{figure}[bh]
djmoffat@1099 384 \centering
djmoffat@1099 385 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{boxplot.png}
djmoffat@1099 386 %\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. }
djmoffat@1099 387 \caption{Box and whisker plot showing the aggregated numerical ratings of six stimuli by a group of subjects.}
djmoffat@1099 388 \label{fig:timeline}
djmoffat@1099 389 \end{figure}
djmoffat@1099 390 For this reason, we include a proof-of-concept web page with:
djmoffat@1099 391 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
djmoffat@1099 392 \item All audioholder IDs, file names, subject IDs, audio element IDs, ... in the collected XMLs so far (\texttt{saves/*.xml})
djmoffat@1099 393 \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)
djmoffat@1099 394 \item Embedded audio to hear corresponding test samples % (follow path in XML setup file, which is also embedded in the XML result file)
djmoffat@1099 395 \item Scatter plot, confidence plot and box plot of rating values (see Figure )
djmoffat@1099 396 \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...)
djmoffat@1099 397 \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)
djmoffat@1099 398 \item All `comments' on a specific audioelement
djmoffat@1099 399 \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
djmoffat@1099 400 %\item Validation of setup XMLs (easily spot `errors', like duplicate IDs or URLs, missing/dangling tags, ...)
djmoffat@1099 401 \end{itemize}
djmoffat@1099 402
djmoffat@1099 403
djmoffat@1099 404 %A subset of the above would already be nice for this paper.
djmoffat@1099 405 \section{Concluding remarks and future work}
djmoffat@1099 406 \label{sec:conclusion}
djmoffat@1099 407
djmoffat@1099 408 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.
djmoffat@1099 409
djmoffat@1099 410 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.
djmoffat@1099 411
djmoffat@1099 412 The code and documentation can be pulled or downloaded from our online repository available at \url{code.soundsoftware.ac.uk/projects/webaudioevaluationtool}.
djmoffat@1099 413 % remote
djmoffat@1099 414 % language support (not explicitly stated)
djmoffat@1099 415 % crossfades
djmoffat@1099 416 % choosing speakers/sound device from within browser? --- NOT POSSIBLE, can only determine channel output counts and its up to the hardware to determine
djmoffat@1099 417 % collect information about software and sound system
djmoffat@1099 418 % buttons, scales, ... UI elements
djmoffat@1099 419 % must be able to load uncompressed PCM
djmoffat@1099 420
djmoffat@1099 421 %
djmoffat@1099 422 % The following two commands are all you need in the
djmoffat@1099 423 % initial runs of your .tex file to
djmoffat@1099 424 % produce the bibliography for the citations in your paper.
djmoffat@1099 425 \bibliographystyle{ieeetr}
djmoffat@1099 426 \small
djmoffat@1099 427 \bibliography{WAC2016} % sigproc.bib is the name of the Bibliography in this case
djmoffat@1099 428 % You must have a proper ".bib" file
djmoffat@1099 429 % and remember to run:
djmoffat@1099 430 % latex bibtex latex latex
djmoffat@1099 431 % to resolve all references
djmoffat@1099 432 %
djmoffat@1099 433 % ACM needs 'a single self-contained file'!
djmoffat@1099 434 %
djmoffat@1099 435 \end{document}