Comparing virtual patients with synthesized and natural speech

Type of content
Conference Contributions - Other
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Human Interface Technology Laboratory
University of Canterbury. School of Health Sciences
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2012
Authors
Heitz, A.
Dünser, A.
Seaton, P.
Seaton, L.
Basu, A.
Abstract

Virtual Patient (VP) simulations are often designed to use pre-recorded speech in order to provide more realism and immersion. However, using actors for recording these utterances has certain downsides. It can add to the cost during implementation, can take considerable time especially when a large number of VPs have to be created, and is not very flexible for example when sentences or words have to be added frequently. This study aims to explore the use of synthesized speech as an alternative to pre-recorded speech for VPs. Two medical scenarios have been prepared for this study, and both have been implemented using a VP with natural language or with synthesized speech. In a pilot study we explored students' retention rates of the symptoms reported by the VP under both conditions to investigate whether synthesized speech can serve as a good enough alternative.

Description
Citation
Heitz, A., Dünser, A., Seaton, P., Seaton, L., Basu, A. (2012) Comparing virtual patients with synthesized and natural speech. Brussels, Belgium: 17th Annual CyberPsychology and CyberTherapy Conference, 25-28 Sep 2012.
Keywords
health education, virtual patient, speech, immersive learning
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Field of Research::08 - Information and Computing Sciences::0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing::080111 - Virtual Reality and Related Simulation
Field of Research::17 - Psychology and Cognitive Sciences::1702 - Cognitive Science::170204 - Linguistic Processes (incl. Speech Production and Comprehension)
Fields of Research::47 - Language, communication and culture::4704 - Linguistics::470410 - Phonetics and speech science
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