1. Sound feature extraction & machine learning
Sound feature extraction is an important technique which can make an application easy to use, and user-friendly. For instance, if we have an audio file of a pop singer’s concert, then by using sound feature extraction, we can easily distinguish when the singer is singing and when he/she is talking to the audience. Or we can use this technique to search for a particular song for which we forget the title but only know how to sing a few words.
Technically, sound feature extraction is a process of computing a compact numerical representation that can be used to characterize a segment of audio. After that each segment of audio can be classified into one of the pre-defined basic audio types.
The main audio features includes but not limited to: global temporal features, instantaneous temporal features, energy features, spectral shape features, harmonic features and perceptual features.
After the extraction of features, a process called “audio classification” is involved, which is basically a technique of machine learning. Its goal is to classify the audio into crying, barking and possibly into other categories. In detail, there are two ways of classification depending on how the features are used.
First, the step-by-step classification means that each feature is used individually in classification steps, and the order in which different features are used for classification is important, normally decided based on computational complexity and the differentiating power of the different features.
Second, the feature vector based audio classification means that a set of features is used together as a vector to calculate the closeness of the input to the training sets. Theoretically, using a feature vector is more effective than using a single feature because multiple features can compensate each other’s drawback in the classification process, but it is more computationally demanding.
2. How to comfort a baby
Babies are cute but sensitive, a space too cold or too hot both make babies cry. But to make a baby feel comfortable, a suitable temperature is just a necessary condition, not suffice condition. Other ways to comfort a baby includes:
Have a special song. Babies love being the center of attention. Thus finding a special song to sing when baby is feeling fussy. The sound of singing will comfort her and help her calm down.
Story time. Babies enjoy the sound of mama’s voice, especially being snuggled. Thus reading a special story can create a relaxing atmosphere, making her comfortable.
Keep yourself calm. Babies can take their cues from mom or dad. If parents become panic or irritable, or if they create a sense of chaos, the baby will sense it and react the same way.
Snuggle with them. Babies need physical touch, and being snuggled by mom or dad will keep them calm and help them feel safe. The “Kangaroo Hold” or going bare skin to bare skin is especially calming for a child.
Take a walk or go for a car ride. Babies need variety in their days. If the fussiness stars, they will often calm down if they get outside and enjoy the fresh air. If baby isn’t feeling happy, take her for a walk around somewhere. Some babies even find the motion and sound of the car soothing so if a walk outside is not in the cards due to the weather, a car ride may make for a good alternative.
Sound feature extraction is an important technique which can make an application easy to use, and user-friendly. For instance, if we have an audio file of a pop singer’s concert, then by using sound feature extraction, we can easily distinguish when the singer is singing and when he/she is talking to the audience. Or we can use this technique to search for a particular song for which we forget the title but only know how to sing a few words.
Technically, sound feature extraction is a process of computing a compact numerical representation that can be used to characterize a segment of audio. After that each segment of audio can be classified into one of the pre-defined basic audio types.
The main audio features includes but not limited to: global temporal features, instantaneous temporal features, energy features, spectral shape features, harmonic features and perceptual features.
After the extraction of features, a process called “audio classification” is involved, which is basically a technique of machine learning. Its goal is to classify the audio into crying, barking and possibly into other categories. In detail, there are two ways of classification depending on how the features are used.
First, the step-by-step classification means that each feature is used individually in classification steps, and the order in which different features are used for classification is important, normally decided based on computational complexity and the differentiating power of the different features.
Second, the feature vector based audio classification means that a set of features is used together as a vector to calculate the closeness of the input to the training sets. Theoretically, using a feature vector is more effective than using a single feature because multiple features can compensate each other’s drawback in the classification process, but it is more computationally demanding.
2. How to comfort a baby
Babies are cute but sensitive, a space too cold or too hot both make babies cry. But to make a baby feel comfortable, a suitable temperature is just a necessary condition, not suffice condition. Other ways to comfort a baby includes:
Have a special song. Babies love being the center of attention. Thus finding a special song to sing when baby is feeling fussy. The sound of singing will comfort her and help her calm down.
Story time. Babies enjoy the sound of mama’s voice, especially being snuggled. Thus reading a special story can create a relaxing atmosphere, making her comfortable.
Keep yourself calm. Babies can take their cues from mom or dad. If parents become panic or irritable, or if they create a sense of chaos, the baby will sense it and react the same way.
Snuggle with them. Babies need physical touch, and being snuggled by mom or dad will keep them calm and help them feel safe. The “Kangaroo Hold” or going bare skin to bare skin is especially calming for a child.
Take a walk or go for a car ride. Babies need variety in their days. If the fussiness stars, they will often calm down if they get outside and enjoy the fresh air. If baby isn’t feeling happy, take her for a walk around somewhere. Some babies even find the motion and sound of the car soothing so if a walk outside is not in the cards due to the weather, a car ride may make for a good alternative.