If you have tried to spell out the letters of a name, or give a (UK) post code or car registration number over the phone, the person at the other end of the conversation might have misheard what you said. One solution to this is to use the radio alphabet (also known as the NATO … Continue reading Analysing the radio alphabet
Category: Speech and language
Writing numbers as words
This article is about how numbers are written as words in various languages. It also has a tiny bit about functions, specifically fixed points of functions, which I use to describe how numbers work in the different languages. I speak only one of the languages below as a native, so I've probably made lots of … Continue reading Writing numbers as words
International languages?
There are several things that are either official or de facto international languages. (I’m using a more elastic meaning of the word language than you might expect.) It’s interesting to look at the history and influences behind these languages, because they often leave fingerprints on the language. Who are the languages for? Who decides on … Continue reading International languages?
Fuzzy matching – context and testing
This is the third article in a short series on fuzzy matching: Introduction Example algorithms Testing and context In this article I will consider the difference between context-dependent and context-independent fuzziness, and think about how fuzzy matching systems can be tested. Context-dependent and context-independent fuzziness If you are trying to do fuzzy matching of strings, … Continue reading Fuzzy matching – context and testing
Fuzzy matching – example algorithms
This is the second article in a short series on fuzzy matching: Introduction Example algorithms Testing and context In this article I will go into three algorithms that are examples of fuzzy matching – Levenshtein distance, Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) and Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). Levenshtein distance The Levenshtein distance is a way to do … Continue reading Fuzzy matching – example algorithms
Fuzzy matching – introduction
This is the first article in a short series on fuzzy matching: Introduction Example algorithms Testing and context In this article I’ll describe how fuzzy matching is different from non-fuzzy or conventional matching, why you might want to use it, and some of what makes it hard. Conventional matching In conventional matching, when you compare … Continue reading Fuzzy matching – introduction
Analysing white noise sounds from nature
The sound of rain, a breeze through trees, water in a stream and waves on a shore are probably familiar to you. They’re different but similar – they all contain white noise and don’t sound like e.g. a guitar, but they also don’t sound the same. In this article I try to analyse some recordings of … Continue reading Analysing white noise sounds from nature
Finite state machines
This is the second article in a series about some classic computer science: Regular expressionsFinite state machinesComparing regular expressions and finite state machines Finite state machines are a way of checking that a series of inputs is valid, potentially doing some actions while you’re doing this checking. They’re not something I use all that often, … Continue reading Finite state machines
Regular expressions
This is the first article in a short series on some classic bits of computer science, which are occasionally useful in professional programming: Regular expressionsFinite state machinesComparing regular expressions and finite state machines A useful tool with a bad reputation Regular expressions are a way to define a set of 0 or more text strings … Continue reading Regular expressions
Looking for copyright music in live streams
My friend Ted has recently started exercising in earnest, to get fighting fit for when he can go back into schools, museums etc. to blow children's minds about creative writing. While he exercises, he plays music from CDs to motivate him and he live streams it to Facebook for accountability. Sometimes the live stream is … Continue reading Looking for copyright music in live streams
Random Tech Thoughts 