VOCODER

Typical Number in Hospital:

Cost Bands:

References: 4

Vocoders attempt to provide speech information via tactile or visual routes. Speech is analysed into frequency components and the relative amplitudes of these operate tactile or visual displays. Tactile vocoders usually employ a bank of filters and present the amplitude of each frequency band via vibrators placed on the skin. Tactile actuators suffer from problems of interaction and masking by other tactile inputs.

Visual vocoders may be coupled to a series of lights related to each frequency range or to a CRT display. Success with these devices has unfortunately been poor, but the potential exists for improved processing and display using computers.