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We performed an experiment to investigate differences between persons with and without hearing losses when playing a novel audio-based game on a tablet computer, and how persons with hearing losses appreciated the game when they played it with three different types of sound materialspeech, music, or mixed speech and music. We analyzed game log files and participants' self-assessments and obtained results showing that there were significant differences between the two participant groups in terms of whether they completed the game. Moreover, the hearing loss group showed a preference for music among the three types of sounds and for the game itself. The two groups listened to music in different ways: hearing participants worked with the music material differently compared with other two types of material, implying that music is the most difficult among the three types. The hearing loss group showed preference for the music only-condition, which is consistent with the results from preliminary experiments we have done. We suggest that this novel game has the potential to improve the listening ability of persons with a hearing loss.

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Abstract. The Music Puzzle is a computer game for tablets and smartphones using sounds for the gameplay. Just like an original picture is reconstructed from pieces with jigsaw puzzle, an original sound is reconstructed from musical segments with Music Puzzle. Each segment is distorted by shifting the pitch and equalization. To finish the game, the user listens to each segment visualized as pieces on the screen, reorders them, and corrects their pitch and equalization. The game has a possibility for deaf and hard of hearing people to improve their residual hearing ability since the observation shows their concentrating the game with sounds and preference for music.

Abstract:We conducted an experiment using a purposefully designed audio-based game called the Music Puzzle with Japanese university students with different levels of hearing acuity and experience with music in order to determine the effects of these factors on solving such games. A group of hearing-impaired students (n = 12) was compared with two hearing control groups with the additional characteristic of having high (n = 12) or low (n = 12) engagement in musical activities. The game was played with three sound sets or modes; speech, music, and a mix of the two. The results showed that people with hearing loss had longer processing times for sounds when playing the game. Solving the game task in the speech mode was found particularly difficult for the group with hearing loss, and while they found the game difficult in general, they expressed a fondness for the game and a preference for music. Participants with less musical experience showed difficulties in playing the game with musical material. We were able to explain the impacts of hearing acuity and musical experience; furthermore, we can promote this kind of tool as a viable way to train hearing by focused listening to sound, particularly with music.

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Scratching performed by aDJ(disk jockey)isaskillful style of playing the turntable with complexmusical output. This study focuses on the description of some of the acoustical parameters and playing strategies of typical scratch improvisations, and howt hese parameters typically are used for expressive performance. Three professional DJsw ere instructed to express different emotions through improvisations, and both audio and gestural data were recorded. Feature extraction and analysis of the recordings are based on ac ombination of audio and gestural data, instrument characteristics, and playing techniques. The acoustical and performance parameters extracted from the recordings give afirst approximation on the functional ranges within which DJsnormally play. Results from the analysis showthat parameters which are important for other solo instrument performances, such as pitch, have less influence in scratching. Both differences and commonalities between the DJs' playing styles were found. Impact that the findings of this work may have on constructing models for scratch performances are discussed. PACS no. 43.75.-z, 43.75.Cd, 43.75.St, 43.75.Tv,43.75.Zz 303 ACTA ACUSTICA UNITED WITH ACUSTICA Hansen et al.:A coustics of turntable scratching Vol. 97 (2011)events, butinanatural musical context in which theyare used in combination with each other.In the next section, some characteristics of the DJ instrument are discussed. Then details of the data collection for the experiment are explained. The "Analysis" section describes the steps in the data analysis and feature extraction, including mechanical, acoustical and performance-related features. In the "Results" section, the data from the feature extraction are presented and discussed, both with a general perspective and with af ocus on performance and expressive aspects. The paper finishes with some conclusive remarks on the feature extraction and data analysis, and also proposes some future directions.

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