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Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant Documentation
What's
new
November 2007
Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant version 2.0 has been
released.
March 2007
Added new HP iPAQ rx4200 and rx4240 PDAs to list of
recommended devices.
January 2006
Added new DELL Axim x51 Pocket PC to list of
recommended devices.
November 2004
Added new DELL Axim x50 Pocket PC to list of
recommended devices.
December 2003
Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant version 1.0 has been released.
Overview
The Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant is a software application
that implements two altered auditory feedback techniques: Delayed
Auditory Feedback (DAF) and Frequency Altered Feedback also called
Frequency-shifting Auditory Feedback (FAF). These
techniques are supposed to help people having stuttering problem to improve their
speech fluency and gain additional self-confidence.
Altered auditory feedback simply means hearing your own voice in a
manner that is slightly different from the way you normally hear it.
Using DAF allows the user to hear his or her own voice with a small
delay, similar to an echo. FAF allows the user to hear his or her own
voice with a shift in the pitch, so the signal heard is either at a
slightly higher or slightly lower pitch than the person's own voice.
For many years, it has been known that when people who have
stuttering problem speak the same text simultaneously with another
speaker (i.e. Choral Speech), they become fluent. The DAF/FAF Assistant
allows the user to hear his or her own voice with a slight time delay
and a pitch shift and creates the illusion of another speaker speaking
at the same time.
Revision History
| December 2003 |
Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant version 1.0 has been released. This
version provides DAF and FAF implementation for the Pocket PC handheld
computers. |
| November 2007 |
Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant version 1.0 has been released.
This version improves application usability a is designed to run on
Windows Mobile 5.0 PDA |
Requirements
 | The software application requires handheld (Pocket PC) computer running Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. |
| For better performance the application requires external headset (headphones
and microphone). |
Pocket
PC Selection
The software will work on many handheld devices running Windows Mobile 5.0
operation system. The following devices are recommended for DAF/FAF
Assistant software:
| PDA |
External headset support (headphones
+ microphone) |
Bluetooth headset support |
Comments |
|
HP iPAQ rx4200, rx4240 |
YES |
YES |
Recommended
Great handheld device supporting all headset configurations.
This is probably one of the smallest devices available on the
market. Excellent sound quality when used with the wired
headset.
We recommend to turn off the Microphone "AGC (Automatic Gain
Control)" feature in "iPAQ Audio" configuration
settings. Also, to increase the volume, you may want to set
the Mode to "Normal" and microphone sensitivity to
"MAX".
|
|
Dell Axim x51
|
YES
|
NO
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Recommended
Great handheld device.
Please note that currently Dell Axim x51 does not support
Bluetooth headsets. Dell and Microsoft are planning to release a
patch to fix this problem. At this moment we recommend to use wired
headset with Dell Axim x51.
|
|
Dell Axim x50 |
YES |
YES |
Recommended
Great handheld device supporting all headset configurations.
|
|
HP iPAQ h5555 |
YES |
YES |
Recommended
Great handheld device supporting all headset configurations. |
We would be very grateful if you let us know about any Pocket PC device
that is compatible with the Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant software and is not
on this list yet.
Headphones
and Microphone Selection
The following headphones and microphone configurations can be used:
| For models that support external microphone (HP iPAQ rx4200, Dell Axim x50, HP iPAQ h5555) use
external headset (microphone and headphones). You can use either
special headset that is designed for PDA (see examples below) or use any
standard cell phone headset and purchase a special adapter (see
below). We recommend to use high quality headsets from well known
companies (Jabra, Plantronics). Recommended |
| Use external headphones and internal microphone. Most of the
handheld devices have sensitive internal microphones that are able to
pick up your voice quite well. |
| Use Bluetooth (wireless) headset. The Bluetooth headset allows you
greater flexibility because it does not use any wires but
can degrade sound quality. Please make sure that your Pocket PC
supports Bluetooth headset profile. We recommend to use high quality
headsets such as Plantronics Voyager(tm) 510 Bluetooth headset or
Jabra Free Speak. |
Please note that different Pocket PC devices have different size of
headphone jacks. Currently there are two standards 2.5 mm (cell phone
headset standard) and 3.5 mm (Pocket PC jack standard).
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|
|
| This adapter made by Plantronics(TM) can be used to connect your
2.5 mm standard cell phone headset to 3.5 mm input connection of
PDA. This adapter is available at: http://www.plantronics.com/ipaq
|
This headset made by Plantronics(TM) can be used directly with
Pocket PC. It includes headphone for one ear and a microphone.
The headset has 3.5 mm jack. This headset is available at: http://www.plantronics.com/ipaq |
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| For Pocket PCs that do not provide
external microphone input you can use any computer compatible
headphones. |
Bluetooth (wireless) headsets are
compatible with the application. Please make sure the PDA supports
Bluetooth headset profile. |
Installation
To install the software you have to connect your
Pocket PC computer to the desktop PC (or laptop) using ActiveSync software
that comes with the Pocket PC. When AcitveSync connection is
established run the Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant installation program:
Press Next button to continue.
You will have to accept the license
agreement and press Finish button.
Follow the instructions from ActiveSync
software. Wait until installation process is competed. Now you can disconnect
your Pocket PC from the desktop computer. You will find the Pocket DAF/FAF
Assistant icon in the Programs folder of your Pocket PC.
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| When you start the application from your Pocket PC you
will see the trial version information message. If you have
registration key please press Register button and enter your User
Name and Key. If you wish to continue with the trial version please
press Continue button. |
If you press Registration button either from the
trial version information window or from the main application window
the following registration dialog will be displayed. Please enter User
Name and Key that you received when purchased the software and press
OK button. |
Bluetooth
Headset Configuration
Most of Pocket PC devices support wireless
connections based on Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth allows to swap files,
exchange data between devices, connect PDA to mobile phone, connect
Bluetooth headsets. Please note that not all PDAs support Bluetooth
headsets. It depends of whether your PDA supports so called Bluetooth
headset profile.
Follow these steps to configure your
Bluetooth Headset:
| Turn on your Pocket PC. |
| In the main window (when all applications are closed) there is an
icon in the right bottom corner of the screen. Click on it and select
"Bluetooth Manager". This will launch the Bluetooth
configuration program. |
| In the left bottom corner click "New->Connect". |
| If your Pocket PC supports Bluetooth headset profile you will see
"Connect a headset" item in the list. Select "Connect a
headset" and click "Next". |
| Switch your headset into "pairing mode". You might need to
check with the headset documentation on how to switch your headset
into the "pairing" mode. Usually you need to press
"On" button on your headset while it is OFF and hold it for
5-7 seconds. |
| Click "Next" button on your Pocket PC screen. The Pocket
PC will start scanning around trying to connect to your wireless
headset. |
| You may need to click on Refresh button on your Pocket PC to restart
scanning again if it did not find the headset at first time. |
| The headset icon should appear on your Pocket PC. Click this icon
and the Pocket PC will ask you for default authorization code. Most
headsets have default code of 0000. You might need to verify this with
headset documentation. |
| Click Finish to create an icon. |
| Turn off "pairing mode" on your headset. Usually you need
to click the "On" button again. |
| This will complete the configuration of your headset. |
| Next time when you turn on your Pocket PC you will have to click the
icon in the right bottom corner of the screen and select "Turn
Bluetooth ON". Then you will need to turn on your headset by
pressing headset On button. The Pocket PC will automatically recognize
and connect to your headset. Pocket PC will display message box asking
you to Accept Or Deny the connection. You will have to accept the
headset connection. Then your headset will be connected. |
To test the headset select Windows Media program from the menu and
press Play button. You should hear the sound in your headset.
Please note that currently Dell Axim x51 does not support Bluetooth
headsets. Dell and Microsoft are planning to release a patch to fix this
problem in the nearest future..
Removing the program
To uninstall the Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant connect
the Pocket PC to your desktop PC (or laptop) using the ActiveSync
software. From ActiveSync application select Tools->Add/Remove Programs menu
item. Select Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant item in the list. Press Remove button.
Using the program
You can start using the Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant with basic reading
exercises. Set the delay value to 50-70 ms and the
frequency pitch shift to +/-5 and start reading aloud. You should see noticeable
speech improvement. Several researches show that short delay (approximately 50
milliseconds) and/or a moderate frequency shift (approximately one-half
octave) immediately reduce stuttering about 75%. Try to work with
different delays and frequency shifts to find the optimal values that
provide the best fluency for you.
When you are comfortable with the basic reading skills
you may want to start experimenting with Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant in many different
situations. Try to use it when you are reading to someone, speaking with close
friends or family members, talking on the phone, doing public presentations.
You can create your own schedule of exercises or
contact your speech-language pathologist to discuss the possible ways of
incorporating the DAF/FAF techniques into your speech therapy.
You can find more about DAF/FAF
techniques in the book 'No Miracle Cures: A Multifactoral Guide to
Stuttering Therapy' (free
full-text download).
If you feel that
you need a professional speech therapy advice please consult with your speech-language
pathologist.
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The Pocket DAF/FAF Assistant interface is simple and
intuitive. There are two gauge controls that are responsible for setting
Delay and Frequency Shift. The Delay has the range of 50
ms to 250 ms. The Frequency Shift has the range of -10 to +10 which
corresponds to +/- one-half octave. These intervals are widely used in
DAF/FAF speech therapy.
The DAF/FAF Assistant automatically saves configured
Delay and Frequency Shift settings when you close the program and restores
these settings back when you start the application.
The Start and Stop buttons turn on and off the sound
playback.
The Register button allows you to enter your
registration name and key. When the software is registered this button is
hidden.
Options button allows user to configure various
application parameters including Noise threshold, Auto Start, Auto DAF
delay reset, etc.
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Warranty Disclaimers and Liability Limitations
The DAF/FAF Assistant and any and all accompanying software, files, data and
materials, are distributed and provided “AS IS” and with no warranties of
any kind, whether express or implied and you hereby assume the entire risk
of using the Software. This disclaimer of warranty constitutes an essential
part of this License.
Any liability of Artefact, LLC will be limited exclusively to refund of purchase
price, if any. In addition, in no event shall Artefact, LLC or its owners,
principals, shareholders, officers, employees, affiliates, contractors, subsidiaries, or parent organizations, be liable for any indirect, incidental,
consequential, or punitive damages whatsoever relating to the use of DAF/FAF
Assistant, or to your relationship with Artefact, LLC.
In addition, in no event does Artefact, LLC authorize you to use DAF/FAF Assistant in applications or systems where DAF/FAF Assistant's failure to
perform can reasonably be expected to result in a significant physical injury,
or in loss of life. Any such use by you is entirely at your own risk, and
you agree to hold Artefact, LLC harmless from any and all claims or losses relating to such unauthorized use.
Related information
Electronic
devices and stuttering treatment. By Judy Kuster.
Using
Electronic Devices to Treat Stuttering. By Casa Futura Technologies.
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