annotate docs/WAC2016/WAC2016.tex @ 1402:1de4c0257fa4

Updated demo project, with some added explanations, and no enforced sampling rate. Shows bugs though, at least in this branch.
author Brecht De Man <b.deman@qmul.ac.uk>
date Tue, 08 Dec 2015 12:18:06 +0100
parents
children 888292c88c33
rev   line source
b@1402 1 \documentclass{sig-alternate}
b@1402 2 \usepackage{hyperref} % make links (like references, links to Sections, ...) clickable
b@1402 3 \usepackage{enumitem} % tighten itemize etc by appending '[noitemsep,nolistsep]'
b@1402 4 \usepackage{cleveref}
b@1402 5
b@1402 6 \graphicspath{{img/}} % put the images in this folder
b@1402 7
b@1402 8 \begin{document}
b@1402 9
b@1402 10 % Copyright
b@1402 11 \setcopyright{waclicense}
b@1402 12
b@1402 13 \newcommand*\rot{\rotatebox{90}}
b@1402 14
b@1402 15
b@1402 16 %% DOI
b@1402 17 %\doi{10.475/123_4}
b@1402 18 %
b@1402 19 %% ISBN
b@1402 20 %\isbn{123-4567-24-567/08/06}
b@1402 21 %
b@1402 22 %%Conference
b@1402 23 %\conferenceinfo{PLDI '13}{June 16--19, 2013, Seattle, WA, USA}
b@1402 24 %
b@1402 25 %\acmPrice{\$15.00}
b@1402 26
b@1402 27 %
b@1402 28 % --- Author Metadata here ---
b@1402 29 \conferenceinfo{Web Audio Conference WAC-2016,}{April 4--6, 2016, Atlanta, USA}
b@1402 30 \CopyrightYear{2016} % Allows default copyright year (20XX) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 32 % --- End of Author Metadata ---
b@1402 33
b@1402 34 \title{Web Audio Evaluation Tool: A framework for subjective assessment of audio}
b@1402 35 %\subtitle{[Extended Abstract]
b@1402 36 %\titlenote{A full version of this paper is available as
b@1402 37 %\textit{Author's Guide to Preparing ACM SIG Proceedings Using
b@1402 38 %\LaTeX$2_\epsilon$\ and BibTeX} at
b@1402 39 %\texttt{www.acm.org/eaddress.htm}}}
b@1402 40 %
b@1402 41 % You need the command \numberofauthors to handle the 'placement
b@1402 42 % and alignment' of the authors beneath the title.
b@1402 43 %
b@1402 44 % For aesthetic reasons, we recommend 'three authors at a time'
b@1402 45 % i.e. three 'name/affiliation blocks' be placed beneath the title.
b@1402 46 %
b@1402 47 % NOTE: You are NOT restricted in how many 'rows' of
b@1402 48 % "name/affiliations" may appear. We just ask that you restrict
b@1402 49 % the number of 'columns' to three.
b@1402 50 %
b@1402 51 % Because of the available 'opening page real-estate'
b@1402 52 % we ask you to refrain from putting more than six authors
b@1402 53 % (two rows with three columns) beneath the article title.
b@1402 54 % More than six makes the first-page appear very cluttered indeed.
b@1402 55 %
b@1402 56 % Use the \alignauthor commands to handle the names
b@1402 57 % and affiliations for an 'aesthetic maximum' of six authors.
b@1402 58 % Add names, affiliations, addresses for
b@1402 59 % the seventh etc. author(s) as the argument for the
b@1402 60 % \additionalauthors command.
b@1402 61 % These 'additional authors' will be output/set for you
b@1402 62 % without further effort on your part as the last section in
b@1402 63 % the body of your article BEFORE References or any Appendices.
b@1402 64
b@1402 65 % FIVE authors instead of four, to leave space between first two authors.
b@1402 66 \numberofauthors{5} % in this sample file, there are a *total*
b@1402 67 % of EIGHT authors. SIX appear on the 'first-page' (for formatting
b@1402 68 % reasons) and the remaining two appear in the \additionalauthors section.
b@1402 69 %
b@1402 70 \author{
b@1402 71 % You can go ahead and credit any number of authors here,
b@1402 72 % e.g. one 'row of three' or two rows (consisting of one row of three
b@1402 73 % and a second row of one, two or three).
b@1402 74 %
b@1402 75 % The command \alignauthor (no curly braces needed) should
b@1402 76 % precede each author name, affiliation/snail-mail address and
b@1402 77 % e-mail address. Additionally, tag each line of
b@1402 78 % affiliation/address with \affaddr, and tag the
b@1402 79 % e-mail address with \email.
b@1402 80 %
b@1402 81 % 1st. author
b@1402 82 \alignauthor Nicholas Jillings\\
b@1402 83 \email{n.g.r.jillings@se14.qmul.ac.uk}
b@1402 84 % dummy author for nicer spacing
b@1402 85 \alignauthor
b@1402 86 % 2nd. author
b@1402 87 \alignauthor Brecht De Man\\
b@1402 88 \email{b.deman@qmul.ac.uk}
b@1402 89 \and % use '\and' if you need 'another row' of author names
b@1402 90 % 3rd. author
b@1402 91 \alignauthor David Moffat\\
b@1402 92 \email{d.j.moffat@qmul.ac.uk}
b@1402 93 % 4th. author
b@1402 94 \alignauthor Joshua D. Reiss\\
b@1402 95 \email{joshua.reiss@qmul.ac.uk}
b@1402 96 \and % new line for address
b@1402 97 \affaddr{Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science}\\
b@1402 98 \affaddr{Queen Mary University of London}\\
b@1402 99 \affaddr{Mile End Road,}
b@1402 100 \affaddr{London E1 4NS}\\
b@1402 101 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
b@1402 102 }
b@1402 103 %Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London
b@1402 104 %% 5th. author
b@1402 105 %\alignauthor Sean Fogarty\\
b@1402 106 % \affaddr{NASA Ames Research Center}\\
b@1402 107 % \affaddr{Moffett Field}\\
b@1402 108 % \email{fogartys@amesres.org}
b@1402 109 %% 6th. author
b@1402 110 %\alignauthor Charles Palmer\\
b@1402 111 % \affaddr{Palmer Research Laboratories}\\
b@1402 112 % \affaddr{8600 Datapoint Drive}\\
b@1402 113 % \email{cpalmer@prl.com}
b@1402 114 %}
b@1402 115 % There's nothing stopping you putting the seventh, eighth, etc.
b@1402 116 % author on the opening page (as the 'third row') but we ask,
b@1402 117 % for aesthetic reasons that you place these 'additional authors'
b@1402 118 % in the \additional authors block, viz.
b@1402 119 %\additionalauthors{Additional authors: John Smith (The Th{\o}rv{\"a}ld Group,
b@1402 120 %email: {\texttt{jsmith@affiliation.org}}) and Julius P.~Kumquat
b@1402 121 %(The Kumquat Consortium, email: {\texttt{jpkumquat@consortium.net}}).}
b@1402 122 \date{1 October 2015}
b@1402 123 % Just remember to make sure that the TOTAL number of authors
b@1402 124 % is the number that will appear on the first page PLUS the
b@1402 125 % number that will appear in the \additionalauthors section.
b@1402 126
b@1402 127 \maketitle
b@1402 128 \begin{abstract}
b@1402 129
b@1402 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.
b@1402 131
b@1402 132 \end{abstract}
b@1402 133
b@1402 134
b@1402 135 \section{Introduction}
b@1402 136
b@1402 137 % Listening tests/perceptual audio evaluation: what are they, why are they important
b@1402 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...
b@1402 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.
b@1402 140 In less technical areas, the framework of a listening test can be used to measure emotional response to music or test cognitive abilities.
b@1402 141 % maybe some references? If there's space.
b@1402 142
b@1402 143 % check out http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-015-0270-8 - only paper that cited WAC15 paper
b@1402 144
b@1402 145 % Why difficult? Challenges? What constitutes a good interface?
b@1402 146 % Technical, interfaces, user friendliness, reliability
b@1402 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.
b@1402 148
b@1402 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}.
b@1402 150
b@1402 151 % Why in the browser?
b@1402 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}.
b@1402 153
b@1402 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?...
b@1402 155
b@1402 156 % only browser-based?
b@1402 157 \begin{table*}[ht]
b@1402 158 \caption{Table with existing listening test platforms and their features}
b@1402 159 \small
b@1402 160 \begin{center}
b@1402 161 \begin{tabular}{|*{9}{l|}}
b@1402 162 \hline
b@1402 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
b@1402 164 \textbf{Reference} & \cite{ape} & \cite{beaqlejs} & \cite{hultigen} & & \cite{mushram} & \cite{scale} & \cite{whisper} & \cite{waet} \\ \hline
b@1402 165 \textbf{Language} & MATLAB & JS & MAX & JS & MATLAB & MATLAB & MATLAB & JS \\ \hline
b@1402 166 \textbf{Remote} & & (\checkmark) & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline \hline
b@1402 167 MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534) & & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 168 APE & \checkmark & & & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 169 Rank Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 170 Likert Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 171 ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116) & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 172 -50 to 50 Bipolar with ref. & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 173 Absolute Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 174 Degradation Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 175 Comparison Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 176 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 177 ITU-R 5 Continuous Impairment Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 178 Pairwise / AB Test & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 179 Multi-attribute ratings & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 180 ABX Test & & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 181 Adaptive psychophysical methods & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
b@1402 182 Repertory Grid Technique & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
b@1402 183 Semantic Differential & & & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark &\checkmark \\ \hline
b@1402 184 n-Alternative Forced Choice & & & & & & \checkmark & & \\ \hline
b@1402 185 \end{tabular}
b@1402 186 \end{center}
b@1402 187 \label{tab:toolboxes}
b@1402 188 \end{table*}
b@1402 189 %
b@1402 190 %Selling points: remote tests, visualisaton, create your own test in the browser, many interfaces, few/no dependencies, flexibility
b@1402 191
b@1402 192 %[Talking about what we do in the various sections of this paper. Referring to \cite{waet}. ]
b@1402 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.
b@1402 194
b@1402 195 \begin{figure}[tb]
b@1402 196 \centering
b@1402 197 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{interface.png}
b@1402 198 \caption{A simple example of a multi-stimulus, single attribute, single rating scale test with a reference and comment fields.}
b@1402 199 \label{fig:interface}
b@1402 200 \end{figure}
b@1402 201
b@1402 202 \begin{comment}
b@1402 203 % MEETING 8 OCTOBER
b@1402 204 \subsection{Meeting 8 October}
b@1402 205 \begin{itemize}
b@1402 206 \item Do we manipulate audio?\\
b@1402 207 \begin{itemize}
b@1402 208 \item Add loudness equalisation? (test\_create.html) Tag with gains.
b@1402 209 \item Add volume slider?
b@1402 210 \item Cross-fade (in interface node): default 0, number of seconds
b@1402 211 \item Also: we use the playback buffer to present metrics of which portion is listened to
b@1402 212 \end{itemize}
b@1402 213 \item Logging system information: whichever are possible (justify others)
b@1402 214 \item Input streams as audioelements
b@1402 215 \item Capture microphone to estimate loudness (especially Macbook)
b@1402 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!
b@1402 217 \item Record IP address (PHP function, grab and append to XML file)
b@1402 218 \item Expand anchor/reference options
b@1402 219 \item AB / ABX
b@1402 220 \end{itemize}
b@1402 221
b@1402 222 \subsubsection{Issues}
b@1402 223 \begin{itemize}
b@1402 224 \item Filters not consistent (Nick to test across browsers)
b@1402 225 \item Playback audiobuffers need to be destroyed and rebuilt each time
b@1402 226 \item Can't get channel data, hardware input/output...
b@1402 227 \end{itemize}
b@1402 228 \end{comment}
b@1402 229
b@1402 230 \section{Architecture} % title? 'back end'? % NICK
b@1402 231 \label{sec:architecture}
b@1402 232 %A slightly technical overview of the system. Talk about XML, JavaScript, Web Audio API, HTML5.
b@1402 233
b@1402 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.
b@1402 235
b@1402 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.
b@1402 237
b@1402 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.
b@1402 239 \begin{comment}
b@1402 240 \begin{figure}[h!]
b@1402 241 \centering
b@1402 242 \includegraphics[width=.45\textwidth]{test_create_2.png}
b@1402 243 \caption{Screen-shot of test creator tool using drag and drop to create specification document}
b@1402 244 \label{fig:test_create}
b@1402 245 \end{figure}
b@1402 246 \end{comment}
b@1402 247
b@1402 248 %Describe and/or visualise audioholder-audioelement-... structure.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 250
b@1402 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.
b@1402 252
b@1402 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.
b@1402 254
b@1402 255 %Which type of files? WAV, anything else? Perhaps not exhaustive list, but say something along the lines of 'whatever browser supports'. Compatability?
b@1402 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.
b@1402 257
b@1402 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.
b@1402 259
b@1402 260 \section{Remote tests} % with previous?
b@1402 261 \label{sec:remote}
b@1402 262
b@1402 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.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 265
b@1402 266 The following features allow easy and effective remote testing:
b@1402 267 \begin{description}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@1402 268 \item[PHP script to collect result XML files] and store on central server.
b@1402 269 \item[Randomly pick a specified number of pages] to ensure an equal and randomised spread of the different pages (`audioHolders') across participants.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 271 % In theory calibration could be applied anywhere??
b@1402 272 % \item Functionality to participate multiple times
b@1402 273 % \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@1402 274 % \item Possible to log in with unique ID (no password)
b@1402 275 % \item Pick `new user' (generates new, unique ID) or `already participated' (need already available ID)
b@1402 276 % \item Store XML on server with IDs plus which audioholders have already been listened to
b@1402 277 % \item Don't show `post-test' survey after first time
b@1402 278 % \item Pick `new' audioholders if available
b@1402 279 % \item Copy survey information first time to new XMLs
b@1402 280 % \end{itemize}
b@1402 281 \item[Intermediate saves] for tests which were interrupted or unfinished.
b@1402 282 \item[Collect IP address information] for geographic location, through PHP function which grabs address and appends to XML file.
b@1402 283 \item[Collect Browser and Display information] to the extent it is available and reliable.
b@1402 284 \end{description}
b@1402 285
b@1402 286
b@1402 287 \section{Interfaces} % title? 'Front end'? % Dave
b@1402 288 \label{sec:interfaces}
b@1402 289
b@1402 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.
b@1402 291
b@1402 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
b@1402 293 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@1402 294 \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
b@1402 295 \begin{comment}
b@1402 296 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@1402 297 \item Multiple stimuli are presented and rated on a continuous scale, which includes a reference, hidden reference and hidden anchors.
b@1402 298 \end{itemize}
b@1402 299 \end{comment}
b@1402 300 \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}: stimuli ranked on single horizontal scale, where they are ordered in preference order.
b@1402 301 \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}: each stimuli has a five point scale with values: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree and Strongly Disagree.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 304 \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: Likert but labels are Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent
b@1402 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.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 308 \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}: Same as ABC/HR but with a reference.
b@1402 309 \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}: every stimulus is rated as being either better or worse than the reference.
b@1402 310 \item APE style \cite{ape}: Multiple stimuli as points on a 2D plane for inter-sample rating (eg. Valence Arousal)
b@1402 311 \item AB Test~\cite{lipshitz1981great}: Two stimuli presented at a time, participant selects a preferred stimulus.
b@1402 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.
b@1402 313 \end{itemize}
b@1402 314
b@1402 315 It is possible to include any number of references, anchors, hidden references and hidden anchors into all of these listening test formats.
b@1402 316
b@1402 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.
b@1402 318
b@1402 319 %%%% \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@1402 320 %%%% \item (APE style) \cite{ape}
b@1402 321 %%%% \item Multi attribute ratings
b@1402 322 %%%% \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
b@1402 323 %%%% \item Interval Scale~\cite{zacharov1999round}
b@1402 324 %%%% \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}
b@1402 325 %%%%
b@1402 326 %%%% \item 2D Plane rating - e.g. Valence vs. Arousal~\cite{carroll1969individual}
b@1402 327 %%%% \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}
b@1402 328 %%%%
b@1402 329 %%%% \item {\bf All the following are the interfaces available in HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} }
b@1402 330 %%%% \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116}
b@1402 331 %%%% \begin{itemize}
b@1402 332 %%%% \item Continuous Scale (5-1) Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?)
b@1402 333 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 334 %%%% \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref
b@1402 335 %%%% \begin{itemize}
b@1402 336 %%%% \item Scale -50 to 50 on Mushra with default values as 0 in middle and a comparison ``Reference'' to compare to 0 value
b@1402 337 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 338 %%%% \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
b@1402 339 %%%% \begin{itemize}
b@1402 340 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent (Default fair?)
b@1402 341 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 342 %%%% \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
b@1402 343 %%%% \begin{itemize}
b@1402 344 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Inaudible, Audible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?) - {\it Basically just quantised ABC/HR?}
b@1402 345 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 346 %%%% \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
b@1402 347 %%%% \begin{itemize}
b@1402 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
b@1402 349 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 350 %%%% \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}
b@1402 351 %%%% \begin{itemize}
b@1402 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
b@1402 353 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 354 %%%% \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}
b@1402 355 %%%% \begin{itemize}
b@1402 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}
b@1402 357 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 358 %%%% \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}
b@1402 359 %%%% \begin{itemize}
b@1402 360 %%%% \item 2 point Scale - Better or Worse - (not sure how to default this - they default everything to better, which is an interesting choice)
b@1402 361 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 362 %%%% \end{itemize}
b@1402 363
b@1402 364 % Build your own test
b@1402 365
b@1402 366 \begin{comment}
b@1402 367 { \bf A screenshot would be nice.
b@1402 368
b@1402 369 Established tests (see below) included as `presets' in the build-your-own-test page. }
b@1402 370 \end{comment}
b@1402 371
b@1402 372 \section{Analysis and diagnostics}
b@1402 373 \label{sec:analysis}
b@1402 374 % don't mention Python scripts
b@1402 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.
b@1402 376 \begin{figure}[bhf]
b@1402 377 \centering
b@1402 378 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{boxplot.png}
b@1402 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. }
b@1402 380 \caption{Box and whisker plot showing the aggregated numerical ratings of six stimuli by a group of subjects.}
b@1402 381 \label{fig:timeline}
b@1402 382 \end{figure}
b@1402 383 For this reason, we include a proof-of-concept web page with:
b@1402 384 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@1402 385 \item All audioholder IDs, file names, subject IDs, audio element IDs, ... in the collected XMLs so far (\texttt{saves/*.xml})
b@1402 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)
b@1402 387 \item Embedded audio to hear corresponding test samples % (follow path in XML setup file, which is also embedded in the XML result file)
b@1402 388 \item Scatter plot, confidence plot and box plot of rating values (see Figure )
b@1402 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...)
b@1402 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)
b@1402 391 \item All `comments' on a specific audioelement
b@1402 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
b@1402 393 %\item Validation of setup XMLs (easily spot `errors', like duplicate IDs or URLs, missing/dangling tags, ...)
b@1402 394 \end{itemize}
b@1402 395
b@1402 396
b@1402 397 %A subset of the above would already be nice for this paper.
b@1402 398 \section{Concluding remarks and future work}
b@1402 399 \label{sec:conclusion}
b@1402 400
b@1402 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.
b@1402 402
b@1402 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.
b@1402 404
b@1402 405 The code and documentation can be pulled or downloaded from our online repository available at \url{code.soundsoftware.ac.uk/projects/webaudioevaluationtool}.
b@1402 406 % remote
b@1402 407 % language support (not explicitly stated)
b@1402 408 % crossfades
b@1402 409 % choosing speakers/sound device from within browser? --- NOT POSSIBLE, can only determine channel output counts and its up to the hardware to determine
b@1402 410 % collect information about software and sound system
b@1402 411 % buttons, scales, ... UI elements
b@1402 412 % must be able to load uncompressed PCM
b@1402 413
b@1402 414 %
b@1402 415 % The following two commands are all you need in the
b@1402 416 % initial runs of your .tex file to
b@1402 417 % produce the bibliography for the citations in your paper.
b@1402 418 \bibliographystyle{ieeetr}
b@1402 419 \small
b@1402 420 \bibliography{WAC2016} % sigproc.bib is the name of the Bibliography in this case
b@1402 421 % You must have a proper ".bib" file
b@1402 422 % and remember to run:
b@1402 423 % latex bibtex latex latex
b@1402 424 % to resolve all references
b@1402 425 %
b@1402 426 % ACM needs 'a single self-contained file'!
b@1402 427 %
b@1402 428 \end{document}