In this article, we consider the performance of speech recognition in noise and focus on its sensitivity to the acoustic feature set. In particular, we examine the perceived information reduction imposed on a speech signal using a feature extraction method commonly used for automatic speech recognition. We observe that the human recognition rates on noisy digit strings drop considerably as the speech signal undergoes the typical loss of phase and loss of frequency resolution. Steps are taken to ensure that human subjects are constrained in ways similar to that of an automatic recognizer. The high correlation between the performance of the human listeners and that of our connected digit recognizer leads us to some interesting conclusions, including that typical cepstral processing is insufficient to support speech information in noise.
The British Library Research and Development Department (BLR &DD) has long been interested in the developing technologies in the fields of imaging and multimedia, and in 1988 published An overview of image processing and image management systems and their application. This report reviewed several fields where these technologies were already being used and also highlighted the future trends for the industry and standards. Since then imaging and multi‐media projects with relevance to the library and information world have featured as a priority area in the allocation of the Department's funds. It is therefore not surprising that this year's Anglo‐French seminar (24–26 June), the eighth in a series of annual seminars aimed at bringing researchers together to discuss ongoing work on topics of common interest, had image handling in museums and libraries as its theme.
Following the initial success of the eLib Programme for Higher Education libraries in the UK, the most recent phase of funding has been directed at hybrid library and clump projects. A clump is an aggregation of catalogues which may be physical ‐ a traditional union catalogue ‐ or virtual, being created at the time of searching. The most common protocol in use in clumps is Z39.50 which offers opportunities for creating gateways to a range of catalogues, thus allowing simultaneous parallel searching. Four clump projects have been approved by eLib and started work in January 1998: CAIRNS ‐ Co‐operative Academic Information Retrieval Network for Scotland; M25 Link: Access to London Libraries; Music Libraries Online (a geographically split subject clump); RIDING: Z39.50 Gateway to Yorkshire Libraries.
Guidelines are suggested for dealing with the impact made on the physical environment of the library by the introduction of information technology. The implications for building services (power, telecommunications, environment, and security) are considered at length. Further sections address the problems of space layout for staff and students, the design and selection of furniture and equipment, and storage and security.
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