Speech intelligibility eveluation by means of objective measures

Abstract

This chapter investigates via both simulation software and measurements the distribution of SPL, RT60, time and amplitude of Rearly and Rlate in a room with curved surfaces. The curved surface in this research was a dome. Preliminary investigation has shown that the equal distribution of these objective measures is destroyed with the existence of curved surfaces in an enclosed room. This unequal distribution of the selected parameters hints that speech intelligibility index of the room could also be varied and altered. Although goals of speech intelligibility are obvious and the fundamental aim of every sound system is to be intelligible, there are two aspects in the design process of a sound system that has to be taken into account. First, the acoustics environment in which the sound system is to be installed and second is the electronic part of the sound system itself. The former is critical since its form and shape have dominance effects on the performances of natural acoustics of a particular enclosed room.