Edinburgh Napier University

  Loudspeakers can now truly be described as ubiquitous, being part of many portable and fixed technologies. They are an important part of everyday life, providing both entertainment and essential information. Unfortunately, growth in utilisation has often created a crowded and noisy acoustic environment. With the increased adoption of voice controlled assistants the concept of having a device that listens to you is becoming more readily accepted. Monitoring the output of a loudspeaker from a listener’s perspective can be an effective way for not only improving clarity, but also for minimising the impact that the device has on anyone else sharing the environment. Instigating an intelligent feedback loop replicates what a considerate person does in everyday practice: they listen until it is their turn to speak and then alter their delivery so that it matches more closely what is appropriate for the situation. If someone comes to the door or a telephone rings during a conversation they cease talking, if something noisy occurs that is unimportant they will either talk over it, or stay quiet until the disturbance passes, at which point they repeat whatever might have been missed. If a person is talking quietly they will usually also speak quietly, if a more normal level is expected then it will be matched, and if shouting is required, then a decision can be made whether or not to engage.