Abstract
In a face-to-face verbal communication, listener’s movements such as nod ding and body motions are interactively synchronized with a speaker’s speech. We have developed a group communication system that uses multiple ”InterActors” that generate communicative motions such as nodding based on the rhythm of utterance like audiences in a VR (Virtual Reality) classroom. The sound environment has a psychological effect on the classroom space. For example, previous studies have shown that the acoustic environment of the classroom affects the learning efficiency of students in the classroom. It may be easier to speak in a noisy environment, such as a classroom break, than speaking in a quiet space. In this paper, we developed a speech support system based on a noisy environment generated by arranging a listener’s InterActor and multiple non-participant characters that were not involved in the conversation, and evaluated the effects of the InterActor’s nodding and back-channel in the noisy environment. As a result, type of noise would give users a different feel, which suggests individual differences in the perception of the appropriate volume for each type of noise. Thus, we analyzed and evaluated the effect of the type of noise and the presence or absence of non-participants on speech by changing the volume of the noise and selecting an appropriate volume in individuals for users. As a result, we verified the effect of the noise environment on the speech.
