Identifying and simulating vocal urgencyCopy Link

Background

Training environments can be complex and confusing. These environments can range from a few trainees to many, depending on the scenario. For large organisations and operations, the requirement for skilled trainers puts a large operational expense on the trainer to ensure the consistency of training approach. For certain simple scenarios, training commands may be automated and synthetic voice commands can be created to respond to a training situation. For more complex scenarios this automated approach is not always possible. 

Traditionally, using text-to-speech synthesis for training commands is problematic as it lacks variance in volume, pace, tone of delivery. The resultant training cues therefore lack realism and often fail to convey urgency and relevance given the lack of contextual information in the delivery of the command.

The challenge here is to develop a system that firstly detects the level of urgency/stress and then secondly uses these measures of urgency to encode relevant characteristics into a text to speech engine to create vocal commands.

Depending on the success and reliability of the solution, there is a possibility that it could be rolled out into other training environments and relevant live situations, but it would need to be well proven in the training environment first.

Selected innovators could receive additional support from the client to take their solution to the next level of development.

Rationale:

1. Improved consistency of training
2. Improved effectiveness of safety critical training modules
3. Reduced travel and logistics to get role playing trainers to remote locations
4. Existing training team can spend more time improving training materials and services

The challenge owner is actively looking for solutions that will:

1. Simulate stress and urgency in the trainer in real time
2. Detect stress and urgency in the trainee (and potentially live situations in the future)
3. Respond and tailor the training according to the levels of stress and urgency
4. Analyse the above at a local level
5. Integrate with existing solutions and offer scalability

Whilst not limiting the technologies from solution providers, it is expected that solutions would consider innovations from some of the following areas:  

• Training providers and IT solutions providers to other high stress sectors, e.g. emergency services, security and defence, healthcare, air traffic control, military, oil & gas, rail operators including TFL etc
• Training providers and IT solutions providers to public sector and security services
• Innovators and start-ups who have a solution which could be piloted on a local level, with a view to scaling 
• Voice recognition technology developers
• Serious gaming

The challenge owner will not consider solutions that involve: 

• Anything that cannot be delivered and operable in remote locations
  

Rewards and Benefits

Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to pitch to the Challenger. The package may also include:

• Support from the Catapult networks and the KTN
• Support in the development of a prototype or pilot 
• Technical support
• Invitation to attend or present at KTN or Catapult events
• A potential business collaboration
• Investor introductions (if investment is required)
• Support if any innovate or similar competitions are relevant

Functional Requirements

• A training tool to deliver from single person up to 30 people at a time
• Operate simultaneously across multiple locations
• Integrate with 50-100 training scenarios and packages
• Client is comfortable with solutions not utilising camera technology, but this would be nice to have, especially if it had reaction analysis

Technical Characteristics

• Must be real time
• Natural language monitoring
• Communicate in English but recognise different voices and accents
• Possess an ability to forewarn or prep the system
• Variable reaction rates to accommodate varying pace of roles and scenarios

Operating Conditions

• Initially land based but must be deployable offshore
• Initially sandbox inside existing systems but ideally a common system workable anywhere
• Potential to work in live situations once proven

Deployment Timescale

• Launch of the Competition: 3rd of September 2019
• Deadline for applications: 18th of October 2019
• Selection and notification of finalists: 25th of October 2019

Cost requirement and market opportunity

• Costs will be proportional to deployability
• For the right product, the solution could be used across the clients portfolio and wider
• This challenge offers a multi year development opportunity for the right solution

Eligibility and assessment criteria

Entrants to this competition must be:

• Established businesses, startups, SMEs or individual entrepreneurs
• UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base

Applications will be assessed on:

• Relevance to the topic
• Innovative nature of the subject
• Coherence of the proposed business model
• Feasibility/ economic viability
• Development potential
• Maturity of project/solution
• Ability to launch project quickly/Ease of implementation
• Price/quality ratio
• Suitability for the UK and European Market

IP and Potential Commercial Route

• Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger.
• Any commercial deployment of transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger.
• Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger. (This would be expected to be after company selection, it is suggested that details of IP not be disclosed, focus on the outcomes of the technology proposed).
• Innovate UK and KTN do not take any share of IP ownership or enter into commercial venture through the IX programme.