annotate docs/WAC2016/WAC2016.tex @ 2141:8130c35158ca

WAC paper final review
author Brecht De Man <b.deman@qmul.ac.uk>
date Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:45:22 +0100
parents 953bcdef0357
children 908041115948
rev   line source
b@1481 1 \documentclass{sig-alternate}
b@1950 2 \usepackage{hyperref} % make links (like references, links to Sections, ...) clickable
b@1950 3 \usepackage{enumitem} % tighten itemize etc by appending '[noitemsep,nolistsep]'
me@1952 4 \usepackage{cleveref}
b@1481 5
b@1479 6 \graphicspath{{img/}} % put the images in this folder
b@1479 7
b@1481 8 \begin{document}
b@1481 9
b@1481 10 % Copyright
b@1481 11 \setcopyright{waclicense}
b@1481 12
nickjillings@1963 13 \newcommand*\rot{\rotatebox{90}}
nickjillings@1963 14
b@1481 15
b@2141 16 % Make clickable footnote (Brecht)
b@2141 17 \newcommand{\hyperfootnote}[1][]{\def\ArgI{{#1}}\hyperfootnoteRelay}
b@2141 18 % relay to new command to make extra optional command possible
b@2141 19 \newcommand\hyperfootnoteRelay[2][]{\href{#1#2}{\ArgI}\footnote{\href{#1#2}{#2}}}
b@2141 20 % the first optional argument is now in \ArgI, the second is in #1
b@2141 21
b@2141 22 % Takes at most 3 parameters (see http://www.tex.ac.uk/FAQ-twooptarg.html for info on multiple optional parameters)
b@2141 23 % If first parameter isn't given, it's value is '' (empty string in text before footnote reference)
b@2141 24 % If second parameter isn't given, it's value is '' (string before visible URL, e.g. 'http://')
b@2141 25 % Makes a clickable footnote (alternatively: \url{}) with optional reference in the text as well
b@2141 26 % Use 1: \hyperfootnote{www.mywebsite.com}: creates a footnote consisting of a clickable URL
b@2141 27 % Use 2: \hyperfootnote[My website]{www.mywebsite.com}: creates a clickable piece of text in the text ('My website') plus a footnote consisting of a clickable URL
b@2141 28 % Note: requires the hyperref package.
b@2141 29 % Note: using xspace package to add/absorb spaces when necessary (e.g. to avoid a space between the footnote number and a punctuation mark)
b@2141 30
b@1481 31 %% DOI
b@1481 32 %\doi{10.475/123_4}
b@1481 33 %
b@1481 34 %% ISBN
b@1481 35 %\isbn{123-4567-24-567/08/06}
b@1481 36 %
b@1481 37 %%Conference
b@1481 38 %\conferenceinfo{PLDI '13}{June 16--19, 2013, Seattle, WA, USA}
b@1481 39 %
b@1481 40 %\acmPrice{\$15.00}
b@1481 41
b@1481 42 %
b@1481 43 % --- Author Metadata here ---
b@1481 44 \conferenceinfo{Web Audio Conference WAC-2016,}{April 4--6, 2016, Atlanta, USA}
b@1481 45 \CopyrightYear{2016} % Allows default copyright year (20XX) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
b@1481 46 %\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@1481 47 % --- End of Author Metadata ---
b@1481 48
b@1951 49 \title{Web Audio Evaluation Tool: A framework for subjective assessment of audio}
b@1481 50 %\subtitle{[Extended Abstract]
b@1481 51 %\titlenote{A full version of this paper is available as
b@1481 52 %\textit{Author's Guide to Preparing ACM SIG Proceedings Using
b@1481 53 %\LaTeX$2_\epsilon$\ and BibTeX} at
b@1481 54 %\texttt{www.acm.org/eaddress.htm}}}
b@1481 55 %
b@1481 56 % You need the command \numberofauthors to handle the 'placement
b@1481 57 % and alignment' of the authors beneath the title.
b@1481 58 %
b@1481 59 % For aesthetic reasons, we recommend 'three authors at a time'
b@1481 60 % i.e. three 'name/affiliation blocks' be placed beneath the title.
b@1481 61 %
b@1481 62 % NOTE: You are NOT restricted in how many 'rows' of
b@1481 63 % "name/affiliations" may appear. We just ask that you restrict
b@1481 64 % the number of 'columns' to three.
b@1481 65 %
b@1481 66 % Because of the available 'opening page real-estate'
b@1481 67 % we ask you to refrain from putting more than six authors
b@1481 68 % (two rows with three columns) beneath the article title.
b@1481 69 % More than six makes the first-page appear very cluttered indeed.
b@1481 70 %
b@1481 71 % Use the \alignauthor commands to handle the names
b@1481 72 % and affiliations for an 'aesthetic maximum' of six authors.
b@1481 73 % Add names, affiliations, addresses for
b@1481 74 % the seventh etc. author(s) as the argument for the
b@1481 75 % \additionalauthors command.
b@1481 76 % These 'additional authors' will be output/set for you
b@1481 77 % without further effort on your part as the last section in
b@1481 78 % the body of your article BEFORE References or any Appendices.
b@1481 79
b@1948 80 % FIVE authors instead of four, to leave space between first two authors.
nickjillings@1315 81 \numberofauthors{6} % in this sample file, there are a *total*
b@1481 82 % of EIGHT authors. SIX appear on the 'first-page' (for formatting
b@1481 83 % reasons) and the remaining two appear in the \additionalauthors section.
b@1481 84 %
b@1481 85 \author{
b@1481 86 % You can go ahead and credit any number of authors here,
b@1481 87 % e.g. one 'row of three' or two rows (consisting of one row of three
b@1481 88 % and a second row of one, two or three).
b@1481 89 %
b@1481 90 % The command \alignauthor (no curly braces needed) should
b@1481 91 % precede each author name, affiliation/snail-mail address and
b@1481 92 % e-mail address. Additionally, tag each line of
b@1481 93 % affiliation/address with \affaddr, and tag the
b@1481 94 % e-mail address with \email.
b@1481 95 %
b@1481 96 % 1st. author
nickjillings@1315 97 \alignauthor Nicholas Jillings\textsuperscript{2}\\
nickjillings@2102 98 \email{nicholas.jillings@mail.bcu.ac.uk}
nickjillings@1315 99 % 2nd. author
nickjillings@2102 100 \alignauthor
nickjillings@1315 101 \alignauthor Brecht De Man\textsuperscript{1}\\
nickjillings@1315 102 \email{b.deman@qmul.ac.uk}
nickjillings@2102 103 \and
nickjillings@2102 104 % use '\and' if you need 'another row' of author names
b@1481 105 % 3rd. author
nickjillings@1315 106 \alignauthor David Moffat\textsuperscript{1}\\
b@1481 107 \email{d.j.moffat@qmul.ac.uk}
b@1481 108 % 4th. author
nickjillings@1315 109 \alignauthor Joshua D. Reiss\textsuperscript{1}\\
b@1481 110 \email{joshua.reiss@qmul.ac.uk}
nickjillings@1315 111 \alignauthor Ryan Stables\textsuperscript{2}\\
nickjillings@1315 112 \email{ryan.stables@bcu.ac.uk}
b@1948 113 \and % new line for address
nickjillings@1315 114 \affaddr{Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science\textsuperscript{1}}\\
b@1481 115 \affaddr{Queen Mary University of London}\\
b@1481 116 \affaddr{Mile End Road,}
b@1481 117 \affaddr{London E1 4NS}\\
b@1481 118 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
nickjillings@1315 119 \and
nickjillings@1315 120 \affaddr{Digital Media Technology Lab\textsuperscript{2}}\\
nickjillings@1315 121 \affaddr{Birmingham City University}\\
nickjillings@1315 122 \affaddr{Birmingham B4 7XG}\\
nickjillings@1315 123 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
b@1481 124 }
b@1481 125 %Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London
b@1481 126 %% 5th. author
b@1481 127 %\alignauthor Sean Fogarty\\
b@1481 128 % \affaddr{NASA Ames Research Center}\\
b@1481 129 % \affaddr{Moffett Field}\\
b@1481 130 % \email{fogartys@amesres.org}
b@1481 131 %% 6th. author
b@1481 132 %\alignauthor Charles Palmer\\
b@1481 133 % \affaddr{Palmer Research Laboratories}\\
b@1481 134 % \affaddr{8600 Datapoint Drive}\\
b@1481 135 % \email{cpalmer@prl.com}
b@1481 136 %}
b@1481 137 % There's nothing stopping you putting the seventh, eighth, etc.
b@1481 138 % author on the opening page (as the 'third row') but we ask,
b@1481 139 % for aesthetic reasons that you place these 'additional authors'
b@1481 140 % in the \additional authors block, viz.
b@1481 141 %\additionalauthors{Additional authors: John Smith (The Th{\o}rv{\"a}ld Group,
b@1481 142 %email: {\texttt{jsmith@affiliation.org}}) and Julius P.~Kumquat
b@1481 143 %(The Kumquat Consortium, email: {\texttt{jpkumquat@consortium.net}}).}
b@1481 144 \date{1 October 2015}
b@1481 145 % Just remember to make sure that the TOTAL number of authors
b@1481 146 % is the number that will appear on the first page PLUS the
b@1481 147 % number that will appear in the \additionalauthors section.
b@1481 148
b@1481 149 \maketitle
b@1481 150 \begin{abstract}
b@2141 151 Perceptual listening tests are commonplace in audio research and a vital form of evaluation. % ?
b@2141 152 While a large number of tools exist to run such tests, many feature just one test type, are platform dependent, run on proprietary software, or require considerable configuration and programming. 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@1481 153 \end{abstract}
b@1481 154
b@1481 155
b@1481 156 \section{Introduction}
b@1949 157
b@1949 158 % Listening tests/perceptual audio evaluation: what are they, why are they important
b@1949 159 % 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@2141 160 Perceptual evaluation of audio, using listening tests, is a powerful way to assess anything from audio codec quality over realism of sound synthesis to the performance of source separation, automated music production and other auditory evaluations.
b@1479 161 In less technical areas, the framework of a listening test can be used to measure emotional response to music or test cognitive abilities.
b@1479 162 % maybe some references? If there's space.
b@1949 163
b@1950 164 % check out http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-015-0270-8 - only paper that cited WAC15 paper
b@1950 165
nickjillings@1957 166 % Why difficult? Challenges? What constitutes a good interface?
nickjillings@1957 167 % Technical, interfaces, user friendliness, reliability
b@2141 168 Several applications for performing perceptual listening tests currently exist, see~\Cref{tab:toolboxes}. Many rely on proprietary, third 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.
nickjillings@1968 169
b@2141 170 HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} is an example of a toolbox that presents the user with a large number of different test interfaces and customisation, without requiring knowledge of any programming language. The Web Audio Evaluation Toolbox (WAET), presented here, stands out for the same reasons but in addition 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@1949 171
b@1949 172 % Why in the browser?
nickjillings@2139 173 The Web Audio API provides important features including sample level manipulation of audio streams \cite{schoeffler2015mushra} and synchronous and flexible playback. Operating in the browser allows leveraging the flexible 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 simultaneously \cite{schoeffler2015mushra}.
b@1479 174
b@2141 175 Both BeaqleJS \cite{beaqlejs} and \hyperfootnote[mushraJS][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@1948 176
b@1948 177 % only browser-based?
me@1952 178 \begin{table*}[ht]
nickjillings@1961 179 \caption{Table with existing listening test platforms and their features}
nickjillings@1963 180 \small
nickjillings@1961 181 \begin{center}
nickjillings@1963 182 \begin{tabular}{|*{9}{l|}}
nickjillings@1961 183 \hline
nickjillings@1963 184 \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
nickjillings@1963 185 \textbf{Reference} & \cite{ape} & \cite{beaqlejs} & \cite{hultigen} & & \cite{mushram} & \cite{scale} & \cite{whisper} & \cite{waet} \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 186 \textbf{Language} & MATLAB & JS & MAX & JS & MATLAB & MATLAB & MATLAB & JS \\ \hline
b@1967 187 \textbf{Remote} & & (\checkmark) & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline \hline
nickjillings@1963 188 MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534) & & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 189 APE & \checkmark & & & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 190 Rank Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 191 Likert Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 192 ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116) & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 193 -50 to 50 Bipolar with ref. & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 194 Absolute Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1968 195 Degradation Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 196 Comparison Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 197 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 198 ITU-R 5 Continuous Impairment Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 199 Pairwise / AB Test & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 200 Multi-attribute ratings & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 201 ABX Test & & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 202 Adaptive psychophysical methods & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 203 Repertory Grid Technique & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
b@1967 204 Semantic Differential & & & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark &\checkmark \\ \hline
nickjillings@1963 205 n-Alternative Forced Choice & & & & & & \checkmark & & \\ \hline
nickjillings@1961 206 \end{tabular}
nickjillings@1961 207 \end{center}
b@2141 208 \vspace{-.5cm}
nickjillings@1961 209 \label{tab:toolboxes}
nickjillings@1963 210 \end{table*}
b@2141 211
b@1948 212 %
nickjillings@1957 213 %Selling points: remote tests, visualisaton, create your own test in the browser, many interfaces, few/no dependencies, flexibility
b@1949 214
nickjillings@1958 215 %[Talking about what we do in the various sections of this paper. Referring to \cite{waet}. ]
nickjillings@2139 216 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 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@1967 217
b@1478 218 \begin{figure}[tb]
b@1478 219 \centering
b@1478 220 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{interface.png}
b@1478 221 \caption{A simple example of a multi-stimulus, single attribute, single rating scale test with a reference and comment fields.}
b@1478 222 \label{fig:interface}
b@1478 223 \end{figure}
b@1478 224
nickjillings@1957 225 \begin{comment}
b@1951 226 % MEETING 8 OCTOBER
b@1951 227 \subsection{Meeting 8 October}
b@1951 228 \begin{itemize}
b@1951 229 \item Do we manipulate audio?\\
b@1951 230 \begin{itemize}
b@1951 231 \item Add loudness equalisation? (test\_create.html) Tag with gains.
b@1951 232 \item Add volume slider?
b@1951 233 \item Cross-fade (in interface node): default 0, number of seconds
b@1951 234 \item Also: we use the playback buffer to present metrics of which portion is listened to
b@1951 235 \end{itemize}
b@1951 236 \item Logging system information: whichever are possible (justify others)
b@1951 237 \item Input streams as audioelements
b@1951 238 \item Capture microphone to estimate loudness (especially Macbook)
b@1951 239 \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@1951 240 \item Record IP address (PHP function, grab and append to XML file)
b@1951 241 \item Expand anchor/reference options
b@1951 242 \item AB / ABX
b@1951 243 \end{itemize}
b@1951 244
b@1951 245 \subsubsection{Issues}
b@1951 246 \begin{itemize}
b@1951 247 \item Filters not consistent (Nick to test across browsers)
b@1951 248 \item Playback audiobuffers need to be destroyed and rebuilt each time
b@1951 249 \item Can't get channel data, hardware input/output...
b@1951 250 \end{itemize}
nickjillings@1957 251 \end{comment}
b@1948 252
b@1949 253 \section{Architecture} % title? 'back end'? % NICK
nickjillings@1961 254 \label{sec:architecture}
nickjillings@1958 255 %A slightly technical overview of the system. Talk about XML, JavaScript, Web Audio API, HTML5.
b@1479 256
nickjillings@1968 257 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.
nickjillings@1953 258
b@2141 259 One of the key initial design parameters for WAET was to make the tool as open as possible to non-programmers. To this end, all of the user modifiable options are included in a single XML document, referred to as the specification document, that can be written manually (or modifying an existing document or template) or using the included test creator. The test creator can modify existing specification documents or generate new ones in an intuitive yet powerful HTML GUI. This simplifies the creation of elements by visualising the data structure with explanatory text.
nickjillings@1953 260
nickjillings@1958 261 %Describe and/or visualise audioholder-audioelement-... structure.
b@2141 262 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 LUFS integrated loudness of the buffers are calculated \cite{loudness201510} and stored to enable on-the-fly loudness normalisation. If the playback uses synchronous looping, the buffers are zero-padded accordingly. Performing these in the browser removes any need for pre-processing. The resulting buffers are assigned to a custom Audio Objects node which tracks the fragment buffer, the Web Audio \textit{bufferSourceNode}, and other specification attributes including its 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 Engine node allowing for session wide control of the Audio Objects.
nickjillings@1953 263
b@2141 264 The only significant issue with this model is the \textit{bufferNode} in the Web Audio API, implemented in the standard as a `use once' object. Once the node has been played, it must be discarded as it cannot be instructed to play again. Therefore on each play request the \textit{bufferSourceNode} must be created and then linked with the stored \textit{bufferNode}. This is an odd behaviour with no alternative except to use the HTML5 audio element, but they do not have the ability to synchronously start on a given time and therefore not suited.
b@1479 265
b@2141 266 In the test, each buffer node is connected to a gain node configured by the loudness normalisation and any user specified gain. 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 followed by a fade-in, or a true cross-fade. This is achieved by using the AudioParam controls to provide linear ramping from 0 to the calculated playback level. There is also an optional `Master Volume' slider which can be shown on the test GUI to modify a gain node before the destination. The control's position is tracked providing extra test use validation. This is not indicative of the final volume exiting the speakers, though, not least because the browser cannot read the system volume. Therefore its use should only be considered in a lab environment to ensure results are representative.
nickjillings@1953 267
nickjillings@1958 268 %Which type of files? WAV, anything else? Perhaps not exhaustive list, but say something along the lines of 'whatever browser supports'. Compatability?
b@2141 269 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. Most browsers support floating point WAV except Firefox. To resolve this, the tool includes its own wave file decoder to extract the samples. The toolbox works in any browser which supports the Web Audio API and HTML 5.
nickjillings@1953 270
b@2141 271 All 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 interface-specific data points.
nickjillings@1953 272
b@1948 273 \section{Remote tests} % with previous?
b@1479 274 \label{sec:remote}
b@1949 275
nickjillings@2139 276 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. 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 the range of metrics logged 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@1949 277 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@1949 278
b@1947 279 The following features allow easy and effective remote testing:
b@2141 280 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep] % replaced description list with itemize as it went outside the margins
b@2141 281 \item \textbf{PHP script to collect result XML files} and store on central server.
b@2141 282 \item \textbf{Randomly pick a specified number of pages} to ensure an equal and randomised spread of the different pages across participants.
b@2141 283 \item \textbf{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.
nickjillings@1953 284 % In theory calibration could be applied anywhere??
b@1479 285 % \item Functionality to participate multiple times
b@1479 286 % \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@1479 287 % \item Possible to log in with unique ID (no password)
b@1479 288 % \item Pick `new user' (generates new, unique ID) or `already participated' (need already available ID)
b@1479 289 % \item Store XML on server with IDs plus which audioholders have already been listened to
b@1479 290 % \item Don't show `post-test' survey after first time
b@1479 291 % \item Pick `new' audioholders if available
b@1479 292 % \item Copy survey information first time to new XMLs
b@1479 293 % \end{itemize}
b@2141 294 \item \textbf{Intermediate saves} for tests which were interrupted or unfinished.
b@2141 295 \item \textbf{Collect IP address information} for geographic location, through PHP function which grabs address and appends to XML file.
b@2141 296 \item \textbf{Collect browser and display information} to the extent it is available and reliable.
b@2141 297 \end{itemize}
b@1947 298
b@1481 299
b@1948 300 \section{Interfaces} % title? 'Front end'? % Dave
b@1479 301 \label{sec:interfaces}
me@1952 302
b@2141 303 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, including
me@1952 304 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@2141 305 \item AB Test~\cite{lipshitz1981great}: Two stimuli presented simultaneously, participant selects a preferred stimulus.
b@2141 306 \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.
nickjillings@2139 307 \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.
nickjillings@2139 308 \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: Likert but labels are Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent
nickjillings@2139 309 \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@2141 310 \item APE style \cite{ape}: Multiple stimuli on one or more axes for inter-sample rating.
b@2141 311 \item APE style 2D \cite{ape}: Multiple stimuli on a 2D plane for inter-sample rating (e.g. Valence Arousal).
b@2141 312 \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}: ACR \& DCR but 7 point scale, with reference: Much better, Better, Slightly better, About the same, Slightly worse, Worse, Much worse.
b@2141 313 \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.
nickjillings@2139 314 \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}: Same as ABC/HR but with a reference.
b@2141 315 \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}: each stimulus has a five point scale with values: Strongly agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree and Strongly disagree.
b@2141 316 \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
nickjillings@1968 317 \begin{comment}
nickjillings@1959 318 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
me@1952 319 \item Multiple stimuli are presented and rated on a continuous scale, which includes a reference, hidden reference and hidden anchors.
me@1952 320 \end{itemize}
nickjillings@1968 321 \end{comment}
nickjillings@2139 322 \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}: every stimulus is rated as being either better or worse than the reference.
nickjillings@1968 323 \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}: stimuli ranked on single horizontal scale, where they are ordered in preference order.
b@2141 324 \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}: each stimulus 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.
me@1952 325 \end{itemize}
me@1952 326
b@2141 327 It is possible to include any number of references, hidden references, hidden anchors and comment fields into all of these listening test formats.
me@1952 328
b@2141 329 Because of the design to have separate core code and interface modules, it is possible for a third party interface to be built with minimal effort. The repository includes a boilerplate (blank.js) and 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.
nickjillings@1955 330
me@1952 331 %%%% \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
me@1952 332 %%%% \item (APE style) \cite{ape}
me@1952 333 %%%% \item Multi attribute ratings
me@1952 334 %%%% \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
me@1952 335 %%%% \item Interval Scale~\cite{zacharov1999round}
me@1952 336 %%%% \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}
me@1952 337 %%%%
me@1952 338 %%%% \item 2D Plane rating - e.g. Valence vs. Arousal~\cite{carroll1969individual}
me@1952 339 %%%% \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}
me@1952 340 %%%%
me@1952 341 %%%% \item {\bf All the following are the interfaces available in HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} }
me@1952 342 %%%% \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116}
me@1952 343 %%%% \begin{itemize}
me@1952 344 %%%% \item Continuous Scale (5-1) Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?)
me@1952 345 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 346 %%%% \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref
me@1952 347 %%%% \begin{itemize}
me@1952 348 %%%% \item Scale -50 to 50 on Mushra with default values as 0 in middle and a comparison ``Reference'' to compare to 0 value
me@1952 349 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 350 %%%% \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
me@1952 351 %%%% \begin{itemize}
me@1952 352 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent (Default fair?)
me@1952 353 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 354 %%%% \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
me@1952 355 %%%% \begin{itemize}
me@1952 356 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Inaudible, Audible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?) - {\it Basically just quantised ABC/HR?}
me@1952 357 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 358 %%%% \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
me@1952 359 %%%% \begin{itemize}
me@1952 360 %%%% \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
me@1952 361 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 362 %%%% \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}
me@1952 363 %%%% \begin{itemize}
me@1952 364 %%%% \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
me@1952 365 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 366 %%%% \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}
me@1952 367 %%%% \begin{itemize}
me@1952 368 %%%% \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}
me@1952 369 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 370 %%%% \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}
me@1952 371 %%%% \begin{itemize}
me@1952 372 %%%% \item 2 point Scale - Better or Worse - (not sure how to default this - they default everything to better, which is an interesting choice)
me@1952 373 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 374 %%%% \end{itemize}
me@1952 375
nickjillings@1955 376 % Build your own test
nickjillings@1966 377
nickjillings@1957 378 \begin{comment}
me@1952 379 { \bf A screenshot would be nice.
me@1952 380
me@1952 381 Established tests (see below) included as `presets' in the build-your-own-test page. }
nickjillings@1957 382 \end{comment}
b@1481 383
b@1481 384 \section{Analysis and diagnostics}
b@1479 385 \label{sec:analysis}
b@1949 386 % don't mention Python scripts
b@1479 387 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@2141 388
b@1479 389 For this reason, we include a proof-of-concept web page with:
b@1950 390 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@2141 391 \item All page IDs, file names, subject IDs, audio element IDs, ... in the collected XMLs so far
b@1479 392 \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@1479 393 \item Embedded audio to hear corresponding test samples % (follow path in XML setup file, which is also embedded in the XML result file)
b@2141 394 \item Scatter plot, confidence plot and box plot of rating values (see Figure \ref{fig:boxplot})
nickjillings@1961 395 \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...)
nickjillings@1961 396 \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@1479 397 \item All `comments' on a specific audioelement
nickjillings@1961 398 \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
nickjillings@1961 399 %\item Validation of setup XMLs (easily spot `errors', like duplicate IDs or URLs, missing/dangling tags, ...)
b@1945 400 \end{itemize}
b@1945 401
b@2141 402 \begin{figure}[tbh]
b@2141 403 \centering
b@2141 404 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{boxplot.png}
b@2141 405 %\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@2141 406 \caption{Box and whisker plot showing the aggregated numerical ratings of six stimuli by a group of subjects.}
b@2141 407 \label{fig:boxplot}
b@2141 408 \end{figure}
nickjillings@1961 409
nickjillings@1958 410 %A subset of the above would already be nice for this paper.
b@2141 411 \section{Concluding remarks}
b@1479 412 \label{sec:conclusion}
b@1967 413
nickjillings@2139 414 We have developed a browser-based tool for the design and deployment of listening tests, requiring no programming experience or proprietary 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@1967 415
b@2141 416 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 intuitive creation of non-adaptive listening tests 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, and many standard test `presets' already available.
b@1945 417
b@2141 418 The code and documentation can be downloaded from the \hyperfootnote[SoundSoftware repository][https://]{code.soundsoftware.ac.uk/projects/webaudioevaluationtool}.
b@1949 419 % remote
b@1949 420 % language support (not explicitly stated)
b@1949 421 % crossfades
nickjillings@1956 422 % choosing speakers/sound device from within browser? --- NOT POSSIBLE, can only determine channel output counts and its up to the hardware to determine
b@1949 423 % collect information about software and sound system
b@1949 424 % buttons, scales, ... UI elements
b@1949 425 % must be able to load uncompressed PCM
b@1949 426
b@1481 427 %
b@1481 428 % The following two commands are all you need in the
b@1481 429 % initial runs of your .tex file to
b@1481 430 % produce the bibliography for the citations in your paper.
nickjillings@1966 431 \bibliographystyle{ieeetr}
nickjillings@1968 432 \small
b@1481 433 \bibliography{WAC2016} % sigproc.bib is the name of the Bibliography in this case
b@1481 434 % You must have a proper ".bib" file
b@1481 435 % and remember to run:
b@1481 436 % latex bibtex latex latex
b@1481 437 % to resolve all references
b@1481 438 %
b@1481 439 % ACM needs 'a single self-contained file'!
b@1481 440 %
b@1481 441 \end{document}