Abstract: A technology to teach speech perception, including phonetics, phonology, and word and phrase segmentation from the audio stream, and pronunciation for second-language acquisition. The technology parses sentences or phrases into words, then learners parse words into phonemes, and then pronounce the words and phrases. Learners receive immediate feedback for each phoneme click. Learners' pronunciation is evaluated by an automatic speech recognition (ASR) program. Vernacular material such as videos and podcasts are presented. Data visualizations include a view for instructors to see correct and incorrect responses for each member of a class, and a view of an individual's phonemes to see which phonemes are difficult for that individual.

Abstract: A garment worn on the leg that carries two or more leg warmers, each leg warmer held at an interval from the other leg warmers, with each leg warmer partially inside and partially outside of the garment. When worn with an ankle boot, the garment gives the appearance that the wearer is wearing a combination of boots having differing heights on the wearer's leg, with each boot fitting into a leg warmer below the boot, and each leg warmer fitting into a boot below the leg warmer.

Abstract: A speech aid for persons with hypokinetic dysarthria, a speech disorder associated with Parkinson's disease. The speech aid alters the pitch at which the user hears his or her voice and/or provides multitalker babble noise to the speaker's ears. The speech aid induces increased speech motor activity and improves the intelligibility of the user's speech. The speech aid may be used with a variety of microphones, headphones, in one or both ears, with a voice amplifier, or connected to telephones.

Abstract: A system for second language acquisition that trains the user's brain's auditory processing area to recognize phonemes, syllables, and words of a foreign language, by presenting videos of a word or phrase spoken at a slow rate and at a normal rate, and an interface for the user to enter the phonemes, syllables, and words that he or she has heard, with immediate responses indicating correct or incorrect entries. Additionally, said system for second language acquisition teaches simplified vocabulary and grammar; enables users to add additional vocabulary and languages; teaches via auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic (movement) methods; and can be used on small mobile devices such as cellular telephones.

Abstract: A device and method for improving speech. One embodiment comprises an apparatus and method for treating stuttering by providing biofeedback to monitor aspects of the user's voice and also providing altered audio feedback (AAF) to induce fluent speech. Biofeedback features include monitoring phonated intervals. AAF features include delayed auditory feedback (DAF), frequency-altered auditory feedback (FAF), and switching the user's voice between his or her left and right ears multiple times per second. The biofeedback controls AAF parameters including volume, which changes smoothly. Bluetooth is also included to connect to wireless microphones and earphones. Another embodiment comprises an apparatus and method for use by persons without speech disabilities for the purpose of improving public speaking by providing their voice back to their ears altered to appear to be in a different emotional state, thus inducing this preferred emotional state in the person speaking.

Abstract: A speech aid for persons with hypokinetic dysarthria, a speech disorder associated with Parkinson's disease. The speech aid alters the pitch at which the user hears his or her voice and/or provides multitalker babble noise to the speaker's ears. The speech aid induces increased speech motor activity and improves the intelligibility of the user's speech. The speech aid may be used with a variety of microphones, headphones, in one or both ears, with a voice amplifier, or connected to telephones.

Abstract: Improvements to a biofeedback device for treating stuttering are disclosed. The device monitors aspects of speech production. When stuttering phenomena are detected, the device provides fluency-enhancing auditory feedback to reduce stuttering. As the user develops speech motor skills (typically taught by a speech pathologist), the device senses reduced stuttering phenomena and reduces auditory feedback. When the user can talk fluently without feedback, he discontinues using the device and continues to talk fluently. The improvements disclosed in this continuation-in-part are a biofeedback feature that monitors the user's vocal pitch; micropower impulse radar to monitor the user's muscle activity; and a fluency-enhancing auditory feedback feature that provides the sound of the user's vocal chords without the sounds added by nasal and oral cavities.

Abstract: A biofeedback system for speech disorders is provided which is adapted to detect disfluent speech, and to provide auditory feedback enabling immediate fluent speech, and to control the auditory feedback in accordance with the disfluent speech, to enable immediate and carryover fluency. The disfluent speech detector is preferably an electromyograph (EMG). The auditory feedback is preferably frequency-altered auditory feedback (FAF). The controller shifts the pitch of the user's voice in accordance with the user's disfluent speech. The biofeedback system may also be provided with delayed auditory feedback (DAF) which enables user control of speaking rate, with masking auditory feedback (MAP) which improves user awareness of the physical sensations of speech, and with a voice-operated switch (VOX) to switch the device off when the user stops talking. The biofeedback system may also include a timer on the DAF circuit to automatically vary the user's speaking rate at regular time intervals.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of undesirble emotional states in general, and during the performance of public speaking in particular. The user of the invention wears a microphone and earphones. The invention digitally alters how the user hears his or her voice, to sound as if the user is in a different emotional state. The user may choose preprogrammed emotional states such as confident authority or happy enthusiasm. The degree of the emotion may also be selected. The result is that the user's emotional state is altered when he or she speaks.