Re: Universal Translators

Chris Hind (chind@juno.com)
Thu, 07 Nov 1996 16:32:21 -0800


>Actually, there are a few cetaceans that have a higher brain mass to body
>mass ratio that humans. The dolphin is one of them. The dolphin also has a
>more convoluted brain than humans. They exhibit complex intelligent speech
>patterns as well.

How intelligent ARE they?

>I used to work on DSP applications, mostly audio, but occasionally graphics
>oriented. Visual processing applications almost always require an order of
>magnitude more processing power than audio ones. I have heard the argument
>before, but I have a difficult time believing that cetaceans use more of
>their brain for audio processing than we use for vision. State-of-the-art
>audio rendering software can run in realtime on a processor capable of less
>than 200-mips.

Does this have to do with blowing virtual air though a virtual model to
produce a sound? I saw on the telivision show "Beyond 2000" a technology
where they would stick a instrument into a person's throat and map out
their voice box with a laser and make a 3D model of it. With the 3D model
they were able to make the person actually sing using the model. When the
internet VR 'metaverse' comes around in say 5-10 yrs max we will be able to
create characteristic voices for our avatars. Does anyone know of a link to
ongoing research about this topic?

>Also, our hearing is more capable than most people think. I have seen
>experiments where blind people were able to echo-locate objects with a cross
>section of 1 square inch in a room using their own voice, and could detect
>changes in position of 3" at a distance of 15' of objects with a
>cross-section of 1 square inch. Non-blind people tend to only have a range
>of 3-7', but everyone possesses the capability. I actually took one of
>these tests. My effective range was 5-6'. Most people don't know they can
>do it until they try.

What evolutionary advantage does this pose?