Improving Speech Recognition with Convolutional Neural Networks

Abstract

This project explores advanced techniques in speech recognition, focusing on emotion identification using Convolutional Neural Networks for improved accuracy and real-time processing efficiency. Emotion recognition from speech signals plays a crucial role in various applications, including human-computer interaction, customer service, mental health monitoring, and entertainment. This project proposes an innovative approach to emotion recognition using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) applied to speech data. By leveraging advanced deep learning techniques, the proposed system aims to accurately identify and classify emotions conveyed through vocal expressions. The project begins with a comprehensive review of existing literature on emotion recognition and speech processing, identifying key challenges and opportunities in the field. Building upon prior research, the project introduces a novel CNN architecture optimized for emotion recognition tasks. This architecture is designed to extract relevant features from speech signals and capture subtle nuances indicative of different emotional states. One of the distinguishing features of the proposed approach is its multi-modal integration, which combines information from both audio and visual modalities to enhance emotion recognition accuracy. In addition to analysing speech signals, the system incorporates visual cues such as facial expressions and gestures, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the speaker's emotional state. Real-time processing efficiency is prioritized in the design of the system, ensuring prompt and responsive emotion recognition in interactive applications. Optimization techniques such as model quantization and lightweight architecture design are employed to minimize computational overhead while maintaining high accuracy. To address the variability and subjectivity of emotional expression, the system incorporates user-specific adaptation mechanisms. Through continuous learning and feedback integration, the system dynamically adapts to individual speakers' speech patterns and emotional characteristics, enhancing its ability to accurately recognize emotions in diverse contexts. The project also explores ensemble learning strategies to improve robustness and generalization performance. By combining predictions from multiple CNN models trained on diverse datasets, the system achieves greater resilience to variations in emotional expression and environmental factors. Ethical considerations, including privacy protection and responsible data handling, are integral aspects of the project's design and implementation. Measures are implemented to ensure the ethical collection, storage, and usage of speech data, safeguarding user privacy and maintaining trust in the system. Overall, the proposed system represents a significant advancement in emotion recognition technology, offering a sophisticated and versatile solution for accurately identifying emotions from speech signals. By leveraging deep learning techniques, multi-modal integration, real-time processing optimization, user-specific adaptation, and ensemble learning, the system demonstrates promising potential for various practical applications requiring robust and context-aware emotion recognition capabilities. Keywords: Speech Recognition, Emotion Identification, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Real-time Processing, Multi-modal Integration, User-specific Adaptation, Ensemble Learning, Deep Learning, Emotional Expression, Ethical Data Handling