Gridlines approach for dynamic analysis in speech ultrasound data: A multimodal app

Abstract

Having access to efficient technologies is essential for the accurate description and analysis of articulatory speech patterns. In the area of tongue ultrasound studies, the visualization/analysis processes generally require a solid knowledge of programming languages as well as a deep understanding of articulatory phenomena. This demands the use of a variety of programs for an efficient use of the data collected. In this paper we introduce a multimodal app for visualizing and analyzing tongue contours: UVA—Ultrasound Visualization and Analysis. This app combines the computational power of R and the interactivity of Shiny web apps to allow users to manipulate and explore tongue ultrasound data using cutting-edge methods. One of the greatest strengths of the app is that it has the capability of being modified to adapt to users’ needs. This has potential as an innovative tool for diverse academic and industry audiences.

Keywords

• tongue ultrasound
• gridlines
• shiny app
• dynamic analysis
• distance
• displacement