Improved voice identifying method

2010-03-10
Newsfeed

Scientists have inched closer to practical application of a technology that uses voice to confirm the identity of a person.

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Scientists have inched closer to practical application of a technology that uses voice to confirm the identity of a person.

It is believed the technology can be used for a range of security purposes, including prevention of ID theft and data protection fraud.

Although the computer models currently used to compare acoustic profiles can successfully identify a speaker, it may take several seconds or more to process the information.

In order to improve the response time without increasing hampering accuracy, researchers from North Carolina State University modified the computers to streamline the authentication process.

Dr Robert Rodman, professor of computer science at the university, said: "The big picture is speaker authentication by computer."

He explained: "The acoustic parameters of the voice are affected by the shape of the vocal tract, and different people have different vocal tracts. This new research will help improve the speed of speech authentication, without sacrificing accuracy."

According to Dr Rodman, this technology can be implemented for enhancing security system in government, financial, health-care and telecommunications industries.

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