1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
[O08-P93] Development of the Original iPhone Application “KIKU RYUSEI” to Incorporate a Barrier-Free Design for Meteor Observation
Keywords:Meteor radio observation, Application development
1. Introduction
Radio meteor observation is based on the reflecting radio waves by the ionization trail that occurs when a meteor traverses the atmosphere. We have developed a unique observation system called the “Meteor Shower Observation and Notification System.” This system automatically observes meteors and promptly broadcasts information about their appearance, allowing anyone to easily observe meteor showers. However, the audio data observed contains white noise (hereinafter referred to as ‘noise’), which may cause difficulties for elderly people and those with visual impairments to continue listening to it. Therefore, we established the “Acoustic Editing and Distribution Section” and the “User Application Section” in our observation system, and we incorporated a barrier-free design.
In this presentation, we will show our system development process: 1) the improvement to reduce noise from the audio data obtained from meteor observation, and 2) the development of an application called “KIKU RYUSEI” for listening to audio meteor data. We will also discuss the results of a listening test to compare the audio meteor data before and after noise reduction.
2. Method
In this study, we used the observed meteor data from the Perseid meteor shower obtained on August 13, 2021. In the “Acoustic Editing and Distribution Section”, we used digital audio editors to output the observed meteor data. Various filters were then applied to the audio data to reduce noise, and the noise-reduced audio data was uploaded to YouTube.
In the “User Application Section”, we developed an iOS application called “KIKU RYUSEI”, allowing users to play the uploaded audio meteor data.
Moreover, we conducted a listening test to assess the effectiveness of noise reduction by comparing the observed audio meteor data before and after noise reduction. We tested two methods: the face-to-face method and the web-based method. A total of 70 participants, aged 12 to 85, took part in the test.
3. Results and Discussions
We successfully reduced noise over a wide range from the observed audio meteor data by establishing the “Acoustic Editing and Distribution Section”. We found that frequency components were concentrated around the detection threshold of the meteor echo signal (495 Hz), where the noise was removed. In developing the “User Application Section”, we succeeded in reproducing/playing back the audio meteor data through “KIKU RYUSEI”.
In the listening test, 29 out of the 37 participants (78%) in the face-to-face method and 17 out of 33 participants(52%) in the web-based method answered that it was more comfortable to listen after noise reduction. There was a difference between the results of both methods, and it may be due to differences in the participants’ attention or focus on the sounds. As the participants played back the observed audio meteor data themselves in the web-based method,
they were more likely to pay attention to the sounds. Furthermore, many participants in the web-based method stated that they were surprised by the spiky-unremoved noise. Even with the same audio data, there is a possibility that the participants in the web-based method were surprised by the rapid fluctuations in frequency components compared to the participants in the face-to-face method.
4. Conclusion
We established the “Acoustic Editing and Distribution Section” and the “User Application Section” in our “Meteor Shower Observation and Notification System”. Our novel iOS application, “KIKU RYUSEI”, incorporates a barrier-free design for meteor observation. These developments allow users to easily listen to meteor echoes with noise-reduced sound using iPhones. Our listening test revealed that the noise-reduced meteor audio data provided a comfortable listening experience, although there were slight differences in the results based on the test methods.
Radio meteor observation is based on the reflecting radio waves by the ionization trail that occurs when a meteor traverses the atmosphere. We have developed a unique observation system called the “Meteor Shower Observation and Notification System.” This system automatically observes meteors and promptly broadcasts information about their appearance, allowing anyone to easily observe meteor showers. However, the audio data observed contains white noise (hereinafter referred to as ‘noise’), which may cause difficulties for elderly people and those with visual impairments to continue listening to it. Therefore, we established the “Acoustic Editing and Distribution Section” and the “User Application Section” in our observation system, and we incorporated a barrier-free design.
In this presentation, we will show our system development process: 1) the improvement to reduce noise from the audio data obtained from meteor observation, and 2) the development of an application called “KIKU RYUSEI” for listening to audio meteor data. We will also discuss the results of a listening test to compare the audio meteor data before and after noise reduction.
2. Method
In this study, we used the observed meteor data from the Perseid meteor shower obtained on August 13, 2021. In the “Acoustic Editing and Distribution Section”, we used digital audio editors to output the observed meteor data. Various filters were then applied to the audio data to reduce noise, and the noise-reduced audio data was uploaded to YouTube.
In the “User Application Section”, we developed an iOS application called “KIKU RYUSEI”, allowing users to play the uploaded audio meteor data.
Moreover, we conducted a listening test to assess the effectiveness of noise reduction by comparing the observed audio meteor data before and after noise reduction. We tested two methods: the face-to-face method and the web-based method. A total of 70 participants, aged 12 to 85, took part in the test.
3. Results and Discussions
We successfully reduced noise over a wide range from the observed audio meteor data by establishing the “Acoustic Editing and Distribution Section”. We found that frequency components were concentrated around the detection threshold of the meteor echo signal (495 Hz), where the noise was removed. In developing the “User Application Section”, we succeeded in reproducing/playing back the audio meteor data through “KIKU RYUSEI”.
In the listening test, 29 out of the 37 participants (78%) in the face-to-face method and 17 out of 33 participants(52%) in the web-based method answered that it was more comfortable to listen after noise reduction. There was a difference between the results of both methods, and it may be due to differences in the participants’ attention or focus on the sounds. As the participants played back the observed audio meteor data themselves in the web-based method,
they were more likely to pay attention to the sounds. Furthermore, many participants in the web-based method stated that they were surprised by the spiky-unremoved noise. Even with the same audio data, there is a possibility that the participants in the web-based method were surprised by the rapid fluctuations in frequency components compared to the participants in the face-to-face method.
4. Conclusion
We established the “Acoustic Editing and Distribution Section” and the “User Application Section” in our “Meteor Shower Observation and Notification System”. Our novel iOS application, “KIKU RYUSEI”, incorporates a barrier-free design for meteor observation. These developments allow users to easily listen to meteor echoes with noise-reduced sound using iPhones. Our listening test revealed that the noise-reduced meteor audio data provided a comfortable listening experience, although there were slight differences in the results based on the test methods.