annotate docs/WAC2016/WAC2016.tex @ 340:90b9b077475a WAC2016

Added screen shots, edited bib. Some edits to intro, abstract and conclusion.
author Nicholas Jillings <nicholas.jillings@eecs.qmul.ac.uk>
date Thu, 15 Oct 2015 21:17:14 +0100
parents b52911d1df64
children cccb3387d375
rev   line source
b@308 1 \documentclass{sig-alternate}
b@318 2 \usepackage{hyperref} % make links (like references, links to Sections, ...) clickable
b@318 3 \usepackage{enumitem} % tighten itemize etc by appending '[noitemsep,nolistsep]'
d@321 4 \usepackage{cleveref}
b@308 5
b@329 6 \graphicspath{{img/}} % put the images in this folder
b@329 7
b@308 8 \begin{document}
b@308 9
b@308 10 % Copyright
b@308 11 \setcopyright{waclicense}
b@308 12
nicholas@337 13 \newcommand*\rot{\rotatebox{90}}
nicholas@337 14
b@308 15
b@308 16 %% DOI
b@308 17 %\doi{10.475/123_4}
b@308 18 %
b@308 19 %% ISBN
b@308 20 %\isbn{123-4567-24-567/08/06}
b@308 21 %
b@308 22 %%Conference
b@308 23 %\conferenceinfo{PLDI '13}{June 16--19, 2013, Seattle, WA, USA}
b@308 24 %
b@308 25 %\acmPrice{\$15.00}
b@308 26
b@308 27 %
b@308 28 % --- Author Metadata here ---
b@308 29 \conferenceinfo{Web Audio Conference WAC-2016,}{April 4--6, 2016, Atlanta, USA}
b@308 30 \CopyrightYear{2016} % Allows default copyright year (20XX) to be over-ridden - IF NEED BE.
b@308 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@308 32 % --- End of Author Metadata ---
b@308 33
b@320 34 \title{Web Audio Evaluation Tool: A framework for subjective assessment of audio}
b@308 35 %\subtitle{[Extended Abstract]
b@308 36 %\titlenote{A full version of this paper is available as
b@308 37 %\textit{Author's Guide to Preparing ACM SIG Proceedings Using
b@308 38 %\LaTeX$2_\epsilon$\ and BibTeX} at
b@308 39 %\texttt{www.acm.org/eaddress.htm}}}
b@308 40 %
b@308 41 % You need the command \numberofauthors to handle the 'placement
b@308 42 % and alignment' of the authors beneath the title.
b@308 43 %
b@308 44 % For aesthetic reasons, we recommend 'three authors at a time'
b@308 45 % i.e. three 'name/affiliation blocks' be placed beneath the title.
b@308 46 %
b@308 47 % NOTE: You are NOT restricted in how many 'rows' of
b@308 48 % "name/affiliations" may appear. We just ask that you restrict
b@308 49 % the number of 'columns' to three.
b@308 50 %
b@308 51 % Because of the available 'opening page real-estate'
b@308 52 % we ask you to refrain from putting more than six authors
b@308 53 % (two rows with three columns) beneath the article title.
b@308 54 % More than six makes the first-page appear very cluttered indeed.
b@308 55 %
b@308 56 % Use the \alignauthor commands to handle the names
b@308 57 % and affiliations for an 'aesthetic maximum' of six authors.
b@308 58 % Add names, affiliations, addresses for
b@308 59 % the seventh etc. author(s) as the argument for the
b@308 60 % \additionalauthors command.
b@308 61 % These 'additional authors' will be output/set for you
b@308 62 % without further effort on your part as the last section in
b@308 63 % the body of your article BEFORE References or any Appendices.
b@308 64
b@316 65 % FIVE authors instead of four, to leave space between first two authors.
d@310 66 \numberofauthors{5} % in this sample file, there are a *total*
b@308 67 % of EIGHT authors. SIX appear on the 'first-page' (for formatting
b@308 68 % reasons) and the remaining two appear in the \additionalauthors section.
b@308 69 %
b@308 70 \author{
b@308 71 % You can go ahead and credit any number of authors here,
b@308 72 % e.g. one 'row of three' or two rows (consisting of one row of three
b@308 73 % and a second row of one, two or three).
b@308 74 %
b@308 75 % The command \alignauthor (no curly braces needed) should
b@308 76 % precede each author name, affiliation/snail-mail address and
b@308 77 % e-mail address. Additionally, tag each line of
b@308 78 % affiliation/address with \affaddr, and tag the
b@308 79 % e-mail address with \email.
b@308 80 %
b@308 81 % 1st. author
b@308 82 \alignauthor Nicholas Jillings\\
b@308 83 \email{n.g.r.jillings@se14.qmul.ac.uk}
b@316 84 % dummy author for nicer spacing
b@316 85 \alignauthor
b@308 86 % 2nd. author
b@308 87 \alignauthor Brecht De Man\\
b@308 88 \email{b.deman@qmul.ac.uk}
b@308 89 \and % use '\and' if you need 'another row' of author names
b@308 90 % 3rd. author
b@308 91 \alignauthor David Moffat\\
b@308 92 \email{d.j.moffat@qmul.ac.uk}
b@308 93 % 4th. author
b@308 94 \alignauthor Joshua D. Reiss\\
b@308 95 \email{joshua.reiss@qmul.ac.uk}
b@316 96 \and % new line for address
nicholas@335 97 \affaddr{Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science}\\
b@308 98 \affaddr{Queen Mary University of London}\\
b@308 99 \affaddr{Mile End Road,}
b@308 100 \affaddr{London E1 4NS}\\
b@308 101 \affaddr{United Kingdom}\\
b@308 102 }
b@308 103 %Centre for Digital Music, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London
b@308 104 %% 5th. author
b@308 105 %\alignauthor Sean Fogarty\\
b@308 106 % \affaddr{NASA Ames Research Center}\\
b@308 107 % \affaddr{Moffett Field}\\
b@308 108 % \email{fogartys@amesres.org}
b@308 109 %% 6th. author
b@308 110 %\alignauthor Charles Palmer\\
b@308 111 % \affaddr{Palmer Research Laboratories}\\
b@308 112 % \affaddr{8600 Datapoint Drive}\\
b@308 113 % \email{cpalmer@prl.com}
b@308 114 %}
b@308 115 % There's nothing stopping you putting the seventh, eighth, etc.
b@308 116 % author on the opening page (as the 'third row') but we ask,
b@308 117 % for aesthetic reasons that you place these 'additional authors'
b@308 118 % in the \additional authors block, viz.
b@308 119 %\additionalauthors{Additional authors: John Smith (The Th{\o}rv{\"a}ld Group,
b@308 120 %email: {\texttt{jsmith@affiliation.org}}) and Julius P.~Kumquat
b@308 121 %(The Kumquat Consortium, email: {\texttt{jpkumquat@consortium.net}}).}
b@308 122 \date{1 October 2015}
b@308 123 % Just remember to make sure that the TOTAL number of authors
b@308 124 % is the number that will appear on the first page PLUS the
b@308 125 % number that will appear in the \additionalauthors section.
b@308 126
b@308 127 \maketitle
b@308 128 \begin{abstract}
nicholas@340 129
nicholas@340 130 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 differen 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.
nicholas@340 131
b@308 132 \end{abstract}
b@308 133
b@308 134
b@308 135 \section{Introduction}
b@317 136
b@317 137 % Listening tests/perceptual audio evaluation: what are they, why are they important
b@317 138 % As opposed to limited scope of WAC15 paper: also musical features, realism of sound effects / sound synthesis, performance of source separation and other algorithms...
nicholas@335 139 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@329 140 In less technical areas, the framework of a listening test can be used to measure emotional response to music or test cognitive abilities.
b@329 141 % maybe some references? If there's space.
b@317 142
b@318 143 % check out http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-015-0270-8 - only paper that cited WAC15 paper
b@318 144
nicholas@328 145 % Why difficult? Challenges? What constitutes a good interface?
nicholas@328 146 % Technical, interfaces, user friendliness, reliability
b@339 147 Several applications for performing perceptual listening tests currently exist, as can be seen in Table \ref{tab:toolboxes}. A review of existing listening test frameworks was undertaken and presented in~\Cref{tab:toolboxes}. 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) 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, it does not require any progamming experience as 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@317 148
b@317 149 % Why in the browser?
b@339 150 The Web Audio API provides important features for performing perceptual tests including sample level manipulation of audio streams \cite{schoeffler2015mushra} and the ability for 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 advanced 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 \cite{schoeffler2015mushra} can enable participants in multiple locations to perform the test. However, to our knowledge, no tool currently exists that allows the creation of a remotely accessible listening test.
b@329 151
nicholas@335 152 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@316 153
b@316 154 % only browser-based?
d@321 155 \begin{table*}[ht]
n@334 156 \caption{Table with existing listening test platforms and their features}
nicholas@337 157 \small
n@334 158 \begin{center}
nicholas@337 159 \begin{tabular}{|*{9}{l|}}
n@334 160 \hline
nicholas@337 161 \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
nicholas@337 162 \textbf{Reference} & \cite{ape} & \cite{beaqlejs} & \cite{hultigen} & & \cite{mushram} & \cite{scale} & \cite{whisper} & \cite{waet} \\ \hline
nicholas@337 163 \textbf{Language} & MATLAB & JS & MAX & JS & MATLAB & MATLAB & MATLAB & JS \\ \hline
nicholas@337 164 \textbf{Remote} & & (not native) & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline \hline
nicholas@337 165 MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534) & & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 166 APE & \checkmark & & & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 167 Rank Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 168 Likert Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 169 ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116) & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 170 -50 to 50 Bipolar with ref. & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 171 Absolute Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 172 Degredation Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 173 Comparison Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 174 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 175 ITU-R 5 Continuous Impairment Scale & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 176 Pairwise / AB Test & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 177 Multi-attribute ratings & & & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 178 ABX Test & & \checkmark & \checkmark & & & & & \checkmark \\ \hline
nicholas@337 179 Adaptive psychophysical methods & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
nicholas@337 180 Repertory Grid Technique & & & & & & & \checkmark & \\ \hline
nicholas@337 181 Semantic Differential & & & & & & \checkmark & \checkmark & \\ \hline
nicholas@337 182 n-Alternative Forced Choice & & & & & & \checkmark & & \\ \hline
n@334 183 \end{tabular}
n@334 184 \end{center}
n@334 185 \label{tab:toolboxes}
nicholas@337 186 \end{table*}
b@316 187 %
nicholas@328 188 %Selling points: remote tests, visualisaton, create your own test in the browser, many interfaces, few/no dependencies, flexibility
b@317 189
nicholas@331 190 %[Talking about what we do in the various sections of this paper. Referring to \cite{waet}. ]
nicholas@340 191 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. We have now expanded this 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 which 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@329 192
b@336 193 \begin{figure}[tb]
b@336 194 \centering
b@336 195 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{interface.png}
b@336 196 \caption{A simple example of a multi-stimulus, single attribute, single rating scale test with a reference and comment fields.}
b@336 197 \label{fig:interface}
b@336 198 \end{figure}
b@336 199
nicholas@328 200 \begin{comment}
b@320 201 % MEETING 8 OCTOBER
b@320 202 \subsection{Meeting 8 October}
b@320 203 \begin{itemize}
b@320 204 \item Do we manipulate audio?\\
b@320 205 \begin{itemize}
b@320 206 \item Add loudness equalisation? (test\_create.html) Tag with gains.
b@320 207 \item Add volume slider?
b@320 208 \item Cross-fade (in interface node): default 0, number of seconds
b@320 209 \item Also: we use the playback buffer to present metrics of which portion is listened to
b@320 210 \end{itemize}
b@320 211 \item Logging system information: whichever are possible (justify others)
b@320 212 \item Input streams as audioelements
b@320 213 \item Capture microphone to estimate loudness (especially Macbook)
b@320 214 \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@320 215 \item Record IP address (PHP function, grab and append to XML file)
b@320 216 \item Expand anchor/reference options
b@320 217 \item AB / ABX
b@320 218 \end{itemize}
b@320 219
b@320 220 \subsubsection{Issues}
b@320 221 \begin{itemize}
b@320 222 \item Filters not consistent (Nick to test across browsers)
b@320 223 \item Playback audiobuffers need to be destroyed and rebuilt each time
b@320 224 \item Can't get channel data, hardware input/output...
b@320 225 \end{itemize}
nicholas@328 226 \end{comment}
b@316 227
b@317 228 \section{Architecture} % title? 'back end'? % NICK
n@334 229 \label{sec:architecture}
nicholas@331 230 %A slightly technical overview of the system. Talk about XML, JavaScript, Web Audio API, HTML5.
b@329 231
nicholas@335 232 Although WAET uses a sparse subset of the Web Audio API functionality, its performance comes directly from using 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 obtain 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 helps detect poor participants whose results are potentially not representative.
nicholas@322 233
nicholas@335 234 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 called the specification document and can be designed either by manually writing the XML (or modifying an existing document or template) or using our included test creator. These are standalone HTML pages which do not require any server or internet connection and help a build the test specification document. The first (test\_create.html) is for simpler tests and operates step-by-step to guide the user. It supports media through drag and drop and a clutter free interface. The advanced version is for more advanced tests where raw XML manipulation is not wanted but the same freedom is required (whilst keeping a safety net). 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.
nicholas@322 235
nicholas@340 236 The basic test creator, Figre \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. This is used in the test to perform loudness normalisation without needing to edit any audio files. Equally the gain can be modified in either editor using an HTML5 slider or number box.
nicholas@340 237
nicholas@340 238 \begin{figure}[h!]
nicholas@340 239 \centering
nicholas@340 240 \includegraphics[width=.45\textwidth]{test_create_2.png}
nicholas@340 241 \caption{Screen-shot of test creator tool using drag and drop to create specification document}
nicholas@340 242 \label{fig:test_create}
nicholas@340 243 \end{figure}
nicholas@328 244
nicholas@331 245 %Describe and/or visualise audioholder-audioelement-... structure.
nicholas@335 246 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 bufferSourceNode, the XML information 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.
nicholas@322 247
nicholas@335 248 The only issue with this model is the bufferNode in the Web Audio API, which is implemented in the standard as a `use once' object. Once the bufferNode has been played, the bufferNode must be discarded as it cannot be instructed to play the same bufferSourceNode again. Therefore on each start request the buffer object must be created and then linked with the stored 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.
nicholas@322 249
nicholas@335 250 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. 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 slider is not indicative of the final volume exiting the speakers and therefore its use should only be considered in a lab condition environment to ensure proper behaviour. Finally the gain nodes allow for cross-fading between samples when operating in synchronous playback. Cross-fading can either be fade-out fade-in or a true cross-fade.
nicholas@328 251
nicholas@331 252 %Which type of files? WAV, anything else? Perhaps not exhaustive list, but say something along the lines of 'whatever browser supports'. Compatability?
nicholas@335 253 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 accpeted by every browser supporting the Web Audio API. The toolbox will work in any browser which supports the Web Audio API.
nicholas@322 254
nicholas@322 255 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.
nicholas@322 256
b@316 257 \section{Remote tests} % with previous?
b@329 258 \label{sec:remote}
b@317 259
nicholas@335 260 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@317 261 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@317 262
b@315 263 The following features allow easy and effective remote testing:
b@329 264 \begin{description}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@329 265 \item[PHP script to collect result XML files] and store on central server.
b@329 266 \item[Randomly pick a specified number of pages] to ensure an equal and randomised spread of the different pages (`audioHolders') across participants.
b@329 267 \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.
nicholas@322 268 % In theory calibration could be applied anywhere??
b@329 269 % \item Functionality to participate multiple times
b@329 270 % \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@329 271 % \item Possible to log in with unique ID (no password)
b@329 272 % \item Pick `new user' (generates new, unique ID) or `already participated' (need already available ID)
b@329 273 % \item Store XML on server with IDs plus which audioholders have already been listened to
b@329 274 % \item Don't show `post-test' survey after first time
b@329 275 % \item Pick `new' audioholders if available
b@329 276 % \item Copy survey information first time to new XMLs
b@329 277 % \end{itemize}
b@329 278 \item[Intermediate saves] for tests which were interrupted or unfinished.
b@329 279 \item[Collect IP address information] for geographic location, through PHP function which grabs address and appends to XML file.
b@329 280 \item[Collect Browser and Display information] to the extent it is available and reliable.
b@329 281 \end{description}
b@315 282
b@308 283
b@316 284 \section{Interfaces} % title? 'Front end'? % Dave
b@329 285 \label{sec:interfaces}
d@321 286
nicholas@335 287 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.
d@321 288
b@323 289 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
d@321 290 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 291 \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
nicholas@332 292 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 293 \item Multiple stimuli are presented and rated on a continuous scale, which includes a reference, hidden reference and hidden anchors.
d@321 294 \end{itemize}
d@321 295 \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}
nicholas@332 296 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 297 \item Stimuli ranked on single horizontal scale, where they are ordered in preference order.
d@321 298 \end{itemize}
d@321 299 \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}
nicholas@332 300 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 301 \item Each stimuli has a five point scale with values: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree and Strongly Disagree.
d@321 302 \end{itemize}
d@321 303 \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116} (Mean Opinion Score: MOS)
nicholas@332 304 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 305 \item Each stimulus has a continuous scale (5-1), labeled as Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying.
d@321 306 \end{itemize}
d@321 307 \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref
nicholas@332 308 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 309 \item Each stimulus has a continuous scale -50 to 50 with default values as 0 in middle and a comparison. There is also a provided reference \end{itemize}
d@321 310 \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
nicholas@332 311 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 312 \item Each stimuli has a five point scale with values: Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent
d@321 313 \end{itemize}
d@321 314 \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
nicholas@332 315 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 316 \item Each stimuli has a five point scale with values: (5) Inaudible, (4) Audible but not annoying, (3) slightly annoying, (2) annoying, (1) very annoying.
d@321 317 \end{itemize}
d@321 318 \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
nicholas@332 319 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 320 \item Each stimuli has a seven point scale with values: Much Better, Better, Slightly Better, About the same, slightly worse, worse, much worse. There is also a provided reference.
d@321 321 \end{itemize}
d@321 322 \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}
nicholas@332 323 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 324 \item 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.
d@321 325 \end{itemize}
d@321 326 \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}
nicholas@332 327 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 328 \item Each stimuli has a five point scale with values: (5) Imperceptible, (4) Perceptible but not annoying, (3) slightly annoying, (2) annoying, (1) very annoying. There is also a provided reference.
d@321 329 \end{itemize}
d@321 330 \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}
nicholas@332 331 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 332 \item A reference is provided and ever stimulus is rated as being either better or worse than the reference.
d@321 333 \end{itemize}
d@321 334 \item APE style \cite{ape}
nicholas@332 335 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 336 \item Multiple stimuli on a single horizontal slider for inter-sample rating.
d@321 337 \end{itemize}
d@321 338 \item Multi attribute ratings
nicholas@332 339 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 340 \item Multiple stimuli as points on a 2D plane for inter-sample rating (eg. Valence Arousal)
d@321 341 \end{itemize}
d@321 342 \item AB Test~\cite{lipshitz1981great}
nicholas@332 343 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 344 \item Two stimuli are presented at a time and the participant has to select a preferred stimulus.
d@321 345 \end{itemize}
d@321 346 \item ABX Test~\cite{clark1982high}
nicholas@332 347 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 348 \item Two stimuli are presented along with a reference and the participant has to select a preferred stimulus, often the closest to the reference.
d@321 349 \end{itemize}
d@321 350 \end{itemize}
d@321 351
nicholas@335 352 It is possible to include any number of references, anchors, hidden references and hidden anchors into all of these listening test formats.
d@321 353
nicholas@335 354 Because of the design choice 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. To this end, there is an `Interface' object which includes object prototypes for creating the on-page comment boxes (including those with radio or checkbox responses), start and stop buttons with function handles pre-attached and the playhead / transport bars.
n@326 355
d@321 356 %%%% \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
d@321 357 %%%% \item (APE style) \cite{ape}
d@321 358 %%%% \item Multi attribute ratings
d@321 359 %%%% \item MUSHRA (ITU-R BS. 1534)~\cite{recommendation20031534}
d@321 360 %%%% \item Interval Scale~\cite{zacharov1999round}
d@321 361 %%%% \item Rank Scale~\cite{pascoe1983evaluation}
d@321 362 %%%%
d@321 363 %%%% \item 2D Plane rating - e.g. Valence vs. Arousal~\cite{carroll1969individual}
d@321 364 %%%% \item Likert scale~\cite{likert1932technique}
d@321 365 %%%%
d@321 366 %%%% \item {\bf All the following are the interfaces available in HULTI-GEN~\cite{hultigen} }
d@321 367 %%%% \item ABC/HR (ITU-R BS. 1116)~\cite{recommendation19971116}
d@321 368 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 369 %%%% \item Continuous Scale (5-1) Imperceptible, Perceptible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?)
d@321 370 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 371 %%%% \item -50 to 50 Bipolar with Ref
d@321 372 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 373 %%%% \item Scale -50 to 50 on Mushra with default values as 0 in middle and a comparison ``Reference'' to compare to 0 value
d@321 374 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 375 %%%% \item Absolute Category Rating (ACR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
d@321 376 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 377 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent (Default fair?)
d@321 378 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 379 %%%% \item Degredation Category Rating (DCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
d@321 380 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 381 %%%% \item 5 point Scale - Inaudible, Audible but not annoying, slightly annoying, annoying, very annoying. (default Inaudible?) - {\it Basically just quantised ABC/HR?}
d@321 382 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 383 %%%% \item Comparison Category Rating (CCR) Scale~\cite{rec1996p}
d@321 384 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 385 %%%% \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
d@321 386 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 387 %%%% \item 9 Point Hedonic Category Rating Scale~\cite{peryam1952advanced}
d@321 388 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 389 %%%% \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
d@321 390 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 391 %%%% \item ITU-R 5 Point Continuous Impairment Scale~\cite{rec1997bs}
d@321 392 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 393 %%%% \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}
d@321 394 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 395 %%%% \item Pairwise Comparison (Better/Worse)~\cite{david1963method}
d@321 396 %%%% \begin{itemize}
d@321 397 %%%% \item 2 point Scale - Better or Worse - (not sure how to default this - they default everything to better, which is an interesting choice)
d@321 398 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 399 %%%% \end{itemize}
d@321 400
n@326 401 % Build your own test
nicholas@340 402
nicholas@328 403 \begin{comment}
d@321 404 { \bf A screenshot would be nice.
d@321 405
d@321 406 Established tests (see below) included as `presets' in the build-your-own-test page. }
nicholas@328 407 \end{comment}
b@308 408
b@308 409 \section{Analysis and diagnostics}
b@329 410 \label{sec:analysis}
b@317 411 % don't mention Python scripts
b@329 412 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@336 413 \begin{figure}[bhf]
b@336 414 \centering
b@336 415 \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{boxplot.png}
b@336 416 %\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@336 417 \caption{Box and whisker plot showing the aggregated numerical ratings of six stimuli by a group of subjects.}
b@336 418 \label{fig:timeline}
b@336 419 \end{figure}
b@329 420 For this reason, we include a proof-of-concept web page with:
b@318 421 \begin{itemize}[noitemsep,nolistsep]
b@329 422 \item All audioholder IDs, file names, subject IDs, audio element IDs, ... in the collected XMLs so far (\texttt{saves/*.xml})
b@329 423 \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@329 424 \item Embedded audio to hear corresponding test samples % (follow path in XML setup file, which is also embedded in the XML result file)
b@336 425 \item Scatter plot, confidence plot and box plot of rating values (see Figure )
n@334 426 \item Timeline for a specific subject %(see Figure \ref{fig:timeline})%, perhaps re-playing the experiment in X times realtime. (If actual realtime, you could replay the audio...)
n@334 427 \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@312 428 \item All `comments' on a specific audioelement
n@334 429 \item A `download' function for a CSV of ratings, survey responses and comments% various things (values, survey responses, comments) people might want to use for analysis, e.g. when XML scares them
n@334 430 %\item Validation of setup XMLs (easily spot `errors', like duplicate IDs or URLs, missing/dangling tags, ...)
b@312 431 \end{itemize}
b@312 432
n@334 433
nicholas@331 434 %A subset of the above would already be nice for this paper.
nicholas@332 435 [Some pictures here please.]
b@316 436 \section{Concluding remarks and future work}
b@329 437 \label{sec:conclusion}
b@308 438
nicholas@332 439 The code and documentation can be pulled or downloaded from our online repository available at \url{code.soundsoftware.ac.uk/projects/webaudioevaluationtool}.
b@308 440
b@329 441 \cite{schoeffler2015mushra} gives a `checklist' for subjective evaluation of audio systems. The Web Audio Evaluation Toolbox meets most of its given requirements including remote testing, crossfading between audio streams, collecting browser information, utilising UI elements and working with various audio formats including uncompressed PCM or WAV format.
b@317 442 % remote
b@317 443 % language support (not explicitly stated)
b@317 444 % crossfades
n@327 445 % choosing speakers/sound device from within browser? --- NOT POSSIBLE, can only determine channel output counts and its up to the hardware to determine
b@317 446 % collect information about software and sound system
b@317 447 % buttons, scales, ... UI elements
b@317 448 % must be able to load uncompressed PCM
b@317 449
nicholas@340 450 The use of the Web Audio API is therefore key to WAET to meeting these requirements and others for performing perceptual evaluation tests. Along with the power of the HTML DOM environment giving the ability to interact with all on-page elements creates a powerful and flexible tool capable of performing a multitude of tests out of the box, whilst other tests could easily be built on top of the framework provided.
nicholas@340 451 \begin{comment}
b@317 452 [What can we not do? `Method of adjustment', as in \cite{schoeffler2015mushra} is another can of worms, because, like, you could adjust lots of things (volume is just one of them, that could be done quite easily). Same for using input signals like the participant's voice. Either leave out, or mention this requires modification of the code we provide.]
nicholas@340 453 \end{comment}
b@308 454
b@308 455 %
b@308 456 % The following two commands are all you need in the
b@308 457 % initial runs of your .tex file to
b@308 458 % produce the bibliography for the citations in your paper.
nicholas@340 459 \bibliographystyle{ieeetr}
b@308 460 \bibliography{WAC2016} % sigproc.bib is the name of the Bibliography in this case
b@308 461 % You must have a proper ".bib" file
b@308 462 % and remember to run:
b@308 463 % latex bibtex latex latex
b@308 464 % to resolve all references
b@308 465 %
b@308 466 % ACM needs 'a single self-contained file'!
b@308 467 %
b@308 468 \end{document}