External noise reduction using WhisperMask, a mask-type wearable microphone

Author

Hiraki, Hirotaka and Kanazawa, Shusuke and Miura, Takahiro and Yoshida, Manabu and Mochimaru, Masaaki and Rekimoto, Jun

Abstract

Conversation through voice is one of the basic means of human communication. Online communication systems and voice user interfaces for operating smartphones or smart devices are increasingly important as an interface that anyone can use daily. However, voice input is difficult to use in noisy environments or in environments where multiple people speak at the same time because unintended voices are included. Conventional microphones such as pin microphones or contact-type microphones such as throat microphones, and NAM microphones have been proposed for reducing external noise, however, pin microphones are not tolerant of high volume, and contact-type microphones generate contact noise when the user nods or walks. We propose WhisperMask, a wearable electret condenser microphone that can acquire speech even in noisy environments. In addition, the proposed mask-shaped microphone allows hands-free input and is wearable, unobtrusive, and lightweight interface.