SpeechJammer: A System Utilizing Artificial Speech Disturbance with Delayed Auditory Feedback
Kazutaka Kurihara, Koji Tsukada

TL;DR
SpeechJammer is a system that disrupts individual speech by using delayed auditory feedback, which can be applied in scenarios like managing discussions without causing physical discomfort.
Contribution
The paper introduces a novel system combining directional microphones and speakers to selectively disturb speech using delayed auditory feedback.
Findings
Effective disturbance of speech without physical discomfort
Prototype system using directional audio components
Potential applications in discussion control
Abstract
In this paper we report on a system, "SpeechJammer", which can be used to disturb people's speech. In general, human speech is jammed by giving back to the speakers their own utterances at a delay of a few hundred milliseconds. This effect can disturb people without any physical discomfort, and disappears immediately by stop speaking. Furthermore, this effect does not involve anyone but the speaker. We utilize this phenomenon and implemented two prototype versions by combining a direction-sensitive microphone and a direction-sensitive speaker, enabling the speech of a specific person to be disturbed. We discuss practical application scenarios of the system, such as facilitating and controlling discussions. Finally, we argue what system parameters should be examined in detail in future formal studies based on the lessons learned from our preliminary study.
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Taxonomy
TopicsSpeech and Audio Processing · Interactive and Immersive Displays · Speech and dialogue systems
