Many people have a fear of public speaking. But what if you could receive helpful cues from a private coach while speaking, unbeknownst to the public you're addressing?
This is exactly what a team of researchers have done at the University of Rochester. They've developed a program for wearable smart glasses called Rhema, which is Greek for "utterance." It provides a new intelligent user interface for Google Glass that gives real-time feedback while remaining minimally distracting.
Researchers say that while the speaker talks, subtle messages appear in the top-right corner of the interface. These let users know if they are speaking too loud, too softly, too fast or too slowly.
Ehsan Hoque, assistant professor of computer science and senior author of the paper, used the system while giving lectures. He says, "My wife always tells me that I end up speaking too softly. Rhema reminded me to keep my volume up. It was a good experience."
The group of researchers tested the system with a group of 30 native English speakers using Google Glasses. They tried different feedback systems to see how the speakers reacted to each of them: using different colors; using words or graphs; and not giving any feedback at all.
They found that the most successful user-tested feedback delivery system did not give cues continually, but rather every 20 seconds in the form of words, such as "louder," "slower" or nothing if the speaker was doing everything right.
The users also reported that this feedback system was better received than not having any feedback at all or having continuous feedback.
Since there was no statistically significant difference among the three different groups of feedback systems in terms of eye contact, use of filler words, being distracted, and appearing stiff, the group of researchers wants to test their system with a more knowledgeable audience on the matter, such as members of Toastmasters International.
While the system is deemed better than receiving no feedback at all, the researchers say that there are some difficulties that might present themselves. For example, some feedback can cause distraction to the speaker and actually lead to more stuttering or awkward pauses. Since the mounted display is placed near the eye, the system might also cause the speaker to lose his or her train of thought.
The researchers suggest that since the system is non-intrusive and private, it is ideal for people who are socially challenged, such as those with Asperger syndrome, and even for those who work in customer service.
Rhema is available for free download from the researchers' website.
