FAQ
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General FAQ
Eligibility
I don’t speak English. Can I record phrases for Project Euphonia in my native language?
Can people of any age participate in this project?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept speech samples from anyone under the age of 18. However, we’ve heard incredibly strong stories highlighting how children and young adults would benefit from being a part of Project Euphonia, so we’re actively exploring how to open up our research to people of all ages.
Am I still eligible to participate if I don’t complete all of the recordings?
Yes. We welcome and appreciate whatever time you’re able to contribute toward our research.
Data collection
What information other than my voice recordings do you need from me?
Most of the questions asked in the screener form after you click on the “Record phrases” blue button are optional, though we do require your email address (so we can contact you) and the country / state (US) where you reside (for legal reasons). Also, both details allow us to give you rewards for recording phrases.
Why do you need my email address?
We need to be able to contact you directly to troubleshoot any issues, and we use your email address to send you rewards. You can ask us to remove your email address from our records and disassociate your voice recordings from the name you provide in the sign-up flow.
Who can access my voice recordings?
Only Google employees and affiliates working on Project Euphonia will have access to your recordings. Your recordings will not be available to anyone else unless you give us explicit permission.
Can I access my voice recordings?
Yes, participants can request a copy of their own data Please Contact Us with this request. Please allow some time for verification and processing.
Time commitment
How long does it take to record the phrases?
Everyone is encouraged to go at their own pace, but we estimate that recording 300 phrases without any breaks may take between 30 to 90 minutes. However, you do not need to record these in one sitting. All phrases will be saved, and you can always pick up where you left off. You can take as much time as needed to complete recording the full phrase set.
Research timeline
When will speech recognition work better for me?
From the learnings of our research, we have created an Android app designed to help those with atypical speech communicate better. Find out more at g.co/ProjectRelate, and download the app to join our early access program.
Recording
What technology is needed to contribute speech samples?
- Internet connection
- A mobile phone OR laptop / desktop computer with a built-in or external microphone
Please watch this 2 minute video for tips on how to record phrases.
We carefully listen to the initial phrase set and provide feedback to participants on recordings as needed (e.g., “Please record in a quieter room”, or “Please place your phone closer to your mouth.”)
What kind of phrases will I be asked to record?
Our phrases are focused on specific use cases, such as when you are using an assistive tool like Google Home or Google Assistant, or having a conversation with a loved one. All the words are carefully selected to propel our research forward.
Can I see what the tool to record phrases looks like?
Yes. Here is a video that demonstrates how to use this tool.
I’m having trouble recording. What do I do?
Try pressing the “Record Phrases” button at the upper right in a Chrome Incognito Window or Safari Private Browser. If you're still having trouble, please Contact Us
I have limited mobility, can I still participate?
Yes. If someone can help you navigate the interface of our recording tool, or if you have indirect access (e.g., via head mouse or eye gaze) to a computer with internet access, you can still participate. If you’re having trouble recording, please Contact Us
Rewards
Will I be compensated for my time?
Participation in our research initiative is voluntary. However, we understand that these recordings take time and energy. Your recordings will be reviewed by a speech and language specialist. If, after review by these specialists, your recordings are deemed suitable for Euphonia research, you will receive a gift card valued at $60 USD (or local currency equivalent) for 300 phrases recorded. Examples of speech that are NOT suitable for Euphonia research include accented speech, and standard speech.
Voice synthesis
How is this related to voice or message banking?
Voice and Message banking are often performed when preparing to lose the ability to speak, either due to a progressive disease or pre-operatively—often before any speech changes have occurred. In contrast, Project Euphonia is seeking speech samples of non-standard speech.
Voice Banking, Message Banking, and Project Euphonia all require recording speech samples in as natural sounding speech as possible
Can I get a Text To Speech (TTS) model of my voice?
Just like our work on speech recognition, our work on voice recreation is very preliminary and not ready for external users yet. You can, however, try Acapela (or other providers) for voice banking, and/or store your own natural voice recordings ('message banking') with tools like mymessagebanking.com.
For members of the press
Press Inquiries
I’m a member of the press. Who do I reach out to?
We’d love to hear from you; press inquiries may be directed to press@google.com.
For speech professionals
Eligibility
Who is the ideal participant?
Any English-speaking adult (age 18 or older) who has trouble being understood due to impaired speech as a result of any condition can sign up and subsequently record speech samples.
Can the individuals I work with get a personalized model?
Yes! We have created an Android app designed to help those with atypical speech communicate better. Find out more at g.co/ProjectRelate ,and download the app to join our early access program.
SLPs Engagement and Compensation
How can I get involved in Project Euphonia?
We are grateful for your interest! We have several SLPs on our team, but realize that broader collaboration amongst this critical community is key to the success of our project.
We’re currently scoping how we can best engage with you, optimally leveraging your experience and expertise while respecting your time. In the meantime, the best way you can help is to encourage the individuals you work with to learn about Euphonia and—if comfortable doing so—sign up to share speech samples to help accelerate our research.
How do I stay in touch with Project Euphonia as it progresses?
Please fill out our SLP-focused survey if you haven’t done so already.
Will I be compensated for helping individuals I work with get involved with Project Euphonia?
We value the commitment you have made to Project Euphonia. Project Euphonia will be sending digital gift cards to SLPs, OTs, and other Accessibility Allies (e.g., Rehab Engineers, ATP, HHA, etc.) for their time spent assisting participants who share their speech. For every hour you assist a participant in recording for Project Euphonia, you will receive a $50 USD (or local currency equivalent) gift card. An annual limit of $550 applies. Once you have accumulated hours, fill out our SLP & Ally Form to let us know, and you will receive your gift card by email. Please note gift cards are limited to professionals not living in the same household as the participant. For our process for providing gifts to participants, see Rewards section above.
Support
Questions?
You can ask our speech and language pathologists questions directly! They hold office hours weekly. Contact Us to be sent a video conference invite.
How you can help
If you are assisting someone who is interested in participating in Project Euphonia as a speech contributor, please help them Record Phrases