if you ask evolutionary biologists when did humans became humans some of them
did humans became humans some of them
did humans became humans some of them will say that well at some point we
will say that well at some point we
will say that well at some point we started standing on our feet became
started standing on our feet became
started standing on our feet became biped and became the masters of our
biped and became the masters of our
biped and became the masters of our environment others will say that because
environment others will say that because
environment others will say that because our brain started growing much bigger
our brain started growing much bigger
our brain started growing much bigger that were able to have much more complex
that were able to have much more complex
that were able to have much more complex cognitive processes and others might
cognitive processes and others might
cognitive processes and others might argue that it’s because we developed a
argue that it’s because we developed a
argue that it’s because we developed a language that allowed us to evolve as a
language that allowed us to evolve as a
language that allowed us to evolve as a species interestingly those three
species interestingly those three
species interestingly those three phenomena are all connected we’re not
phenomena are all connected we’re not
phenomena are all connected we’re not sure how or in which order but they are
sure how or in which order but they are
sure how or in which order but they are all linked with the change of shape of
all linked with the change of shape of
all linked with the change of shape of little bone in the back of your neck
little bone in the back of your neck
little bone in the back of your neck that change the angle between our head
that change the angle between our head
that change the angle between our head and our body that made that we were able
and our body that made that we were able
and our body that made that we were able to stand upright but also for a brain to
to stand upright but also for a brain to
to stand upright but also for a brain to evolve in the back and for Voicebox to
evolve in the back and for Voicebox to
evolve in the back and for Voicebox to grow from 7 centimeters for primates to
grow from 7 centimeters for primates to
grow from 7 centimeters for primates to 11 and up to 17 centimeters for humans
11 and up to 17 centimeters for humans
11 and up to 17 centimeters for humans and this is called add essence of the
and this is called add essence of the
and this is called add essence of the land and the larynx is a site of your
land and the larynx is a site of your
land and the larynx is a site of your voice when baby humans are born today
voice when baby humans are born today
voice when baby humans are born today their larynx is not descended yet that
their larynx is not descended yet that
their larynx is not descended yet that only happens at about 3 months old so
only happens at about 3 months old so
only happens at about 3 months old so metaphorically each of us here I’ve
metaphorically each of us here I’ve
metaphorically each of us here I’ve relived the evolution of our whole
relived the evolution of our whole
relived the evolution of our whole specie and talking about babies when you
specie and talking about babies when you
specie and talking about babies when you were starting to develop in your
were starting to develop in your
were starting to develop in your mother’s womb the first sensation that
mother’s womb the first sensation that
mother’s womb the first sensation that you had coming from the outside world
you had coming from the outside world
you had coming from the outside world and only 3 weeks old when you’re about
and only 3 weeks old when you’re about
and only 3 weeks old when you’re about the size of a shrimp we’re through the
the size of a shrimp we’re through the
the size of a shrimp we’re through the tactile sensation coming from the
tactile sensation coming from the
tactile sensation coming from the vibrations of your mother’s voice so as
vibrations of your mother’s voice so as
vibrations of your mother’s voice so as we can see the human voice is quite
we can see the human voice is quite
we can see the human voice is quite meaningful and important at the species
meaningful and important at the species
meaningful and important at the species at the level of the species
at the level of the species
at the level of the species at the level of the society this is how
at the level of the society this is how
at the level of the society this is how we communicate and create bonds and at
we communicate and create bonds and at
we communicate and create bonds and at the personal and interpersonal levels
the personal and interpersonal levels
the personal and interpersonal levels with our voice which are much more than
with our voice which are much more than
with our voice which are much more than words and data this is which we shall
words and data this is which we shall
words and data this is which we shall basically who we are and our voice is
basically who we are and our voice is
basically who we are and our voice is indiscernible from how other people see
indiscernible from how other people see
indiscernible from how other people see us it is a mask that we were in society
us it is a mask that we were in society
us it is a mask that we were in society but our relationship with our own voice
but our relationship with our own voice
but our relationship with our own voice is far from obvious we rarely use our
is far from obvious we rarely use our
is far from obvious we rarely use our voice for our self we use it as a gift
voice for our self we use it as a gift
voice for our self we use it as a gift to give to others it is a how we touch
to give to others it is a how we touch
to give to others it is a how we touch each other
each other
each other it’s a dialectical grooming but what do
it’s a dialectical grooming but what do
it’s a dialectical grooming but what do we think about our own voice so please
we think about our own voice so please
we think about our own voice so please raise your hand if you don’t like the
raise your hand if you don’t like the
raise your hand if you don’t like the sound of your voice when you hear it on
sound of your voice when you hear it on
sound of your voice when you hear it on recording machine yeah thank you indeed
recording machine yeah thank you indeed
recording machine yeah thank you indeed most people report not liking the sound
most people report not liking the sound
most people report not liking the sound of their of their voice recording so
of their of their voice recording so
of their of their voice recording so what does that mean let’s try to
what does that mean let’s try to
what does that mean let’s try to understand that in the next 10 minutes
understand that in the next 10 minutes
understand that in the next 10 minutes I’m a researcher at the MIT Media Lab
I’m a researcher at the MIT Media Lab
I’m a researcher at the MIT Media Lab part of the Opera the Future group and
part of the Opera the Future group and
part of the Opera the Future group and my my research focus is on the
my my research focus is on the
my my research focus is on the relationship people have with their own
relationship people have with their own
relationship people have with their own voice and with the voices of others I
voice and with the voices of others I
voice and with the voices of others I study what we can learn from listening
study what we can learn from listening
study what we can learn from listening to voices from the advice field from
to voices from the advice field from
to voices from the advice field from neurology to biology cognitive sciences
neurology to biology cognitive sciences
neurology to biology cognitive sciences linguistic and in our group we create
linguistic and in our group we create
linguistic and in our group we create tools and experiences to help people
tools and experiences to help people
tools and experiences to help people gain a better applied understanding of
gain a better applied understanding of
gain a better applied understanding of their voice in order to reduce the
their voice in order to reduce the
their voice in order to reduce the biases to become better listeners to
biases to become better listeners to
biases to become better listeners to create more healthy relationship or just
create more healthy relationship or just
create more healthy relationship or just to understand themselves better and this
to understand themselves better and this
to understand themselves better and this really has to come with a holistic
really has to come with a holistic
really has to come with a holistic approach on the voice because think
approach on the voice because think
approach on the voice because think about all the applications and
about all the applications and
about all the applications and implications that the voice might have
implications that the voice might have
implications that the voice might have as we discover more about it your voice
as we discover more about it your voice
as we discover more about it your voice is a very complex phenomena it it
is a very complex phenomena it it
is a very complex phenomena it it requires a synchronization of more than
requires a synchronization of more than
requires a synchronization of more than 100 muscles in your body and by
100 muscles in your body and by
100 muscles in your body and by listening to the voice we can understand
listening to the voice we can understand
listening to the voice we can understand possible failures of what happens inside
possible failures of what happens inside
possible failures of what happens inside for example listening to very specific
for example listening to very specific
for example listening to very specific type of turbulences and
type of turbulences and
type of turbulences and linearity of the voice can help predict
linearity of the voice can help predict
linearity of the voice can help predict very early stages of Parkinson just your
very early stages of Parkinson just your
very early stages of Parkinson just your phone called listening to the brazenness
phone called listening to the brazenness
phone called listening to the brazenness of the voice can help detect heart
of the voice can help detect heart
of the voice can help detect heart disease and we also know that the
disease and we also know that the
disease and we also know that the changes of tempo inside individual words
changes of tempo inside individual words
changes of tempo inside individual words is a very good marker of depression your
is a very good marker of depression your
is a very good marker of depression your voice is also very linked with your
voice is also very linked with your
voice is also very linked with your hormone levels third part is listening
hormone levels third part is listening
hormone levels third part is listening to female voices were able to very
to female voices were able to very
to female voices were able to very accurately place the speaker on their
accurately place the speaker on their
accurately place the speaker on their menstrual cycle just with acoustic
menstrual cycle just with acoustic
menstrual cycle just with acoustic informations and now with technologies
informations and now with technologies
informations and now with technologies listening to us all the time
listening to us all the time
listening to us all the time Amazon Alexa from Amazon echo might be
Amazon Alexa from Amazon echo might be
Amazon Alexa from Amazon echo might be able to predict if you’re pregnant even
able to predict if you’re pregnant even
able to predict if you’re pregnant even before you know it so think about it
before you know it so think about it
before you know it so think about it think about the ethical application of
think about the ethical application of
think about the ethical application of that your voice is also very linked to
that your voice is also very linked to
that your voice is also very linked to how you create relationship you have a
how you create relationship you have a
how you create relationship you have a different voice for every person you
different voice for every person you
different voice for every person you talk to if I take a little snippet of
talk to if I take a little snippet of
talk to if I take a little snippet of your voice and I analyze it I can know
your voice and I analyze it I can know
your voice and I analyze it I can know whether you’re talking to your mother to
whether you’re talking to your mother to
whether you’re talking to your mother to your brother your friend or your boss so
your brother your friend or your boss so
your brother your friend or your boss so in we can also use as a predictors of
in we can also use as a predictors of
in we can also use as a predictors of the vocal posture
the vocal posture
the vocal posture meaning how you decide to place your
meaning how you decide to place your
meaning how you decide to place your voice when you talk to someone and you
voice when you talk to someone and you
voice when you talk to someone and you vocal posture when you talk to your
vocal posture when you talk to your
vocal posture when you talk to your spouse can help predict not only if but
spouse can help predict not only if but
spouse can help predict not only if but also when you will divorce so there’s a
also when you will divorce so there’s a
also when you will divorce so there’s a lot to learn from listening to voices
lot to learn from listening to voices
lot to learn from listening to voices and I believe that this has to start
and I believe that this has to start
and I believe that this has to start with understanding that we have more
with understanding that we have more
with understanding that we have more than one voice so I’m going to talk
than one voice so I’m going to talk
than one voice so I’m going to talk about three voices that most of us
about three voices that most of us
about three voices that most of us possess in a model of what I call the
possess in a model of what I call the
possess in a model of what I call the mask so when you look at a mask what you
mask so when you look at a mask what you
mask so when you look at a mask what you see is a projection of a character let’s
see is a projection of a character let’s
see is a projection of a character let’s call that your outward voice this is
call that your outward voice this is
call that your outward voice this is also the most classic way to think about
also the most classic way to think about
also the most classic way to think about the voice it’s so we’re projecting
the voice it’s so we’re projecting
the voice it’s so we’re projecting yourself in the world the mechanism for
yourself in the world the mechanism for
yourself in the world the mechanism for this projection is well understood your
this projection is well understood your
this projection is well understood your lung contract your diaphragm and that
lung contract your diaphragm and that
lung contract your diaphragm and that creates a self-sustained vibration of
creates a self-sustained vibration of
creates a self-sustained vibration of your vocal fold that creates a sound and
your vocal fold that creates a sound and
your vocal fold that creates a sound and then the way you open and close the
then the way you open and close the
then the way you open and close the cavities in your mouth
cavities in your mouth
cavities in your mouth your vocal tract is going to transform
your vocal tract is going to transform
your vocal tract is going to transform the sound so everyone has the same
the sound so everyone has the same
the sound so everyone has the same mechanism but voices are quite unique
mechanism but voices are quite unique
mechanism but voices are quite unique it’s because very subtle differences in
it’s because very subtle differences in
it’s because very subtle differences in size in physiology in hormone levels are
size in physiology in hormone levels are
size in physiology in hormone levels are gonna change it’s gonna make very subtle
gonna change it’s gonna make very subtle
gonna change it’s gonna make very subtle differences in your outward voice a new
differences in your outward voice a new
differences in your outward voice a new brain is very good at picking up those
brain is very good at picking up those
brain is very good at picking up those subtle differences from other people’s
subtle differences from other people’s
subtle differences from other people’s outward voices in our lab we’re working
outward voices in our lab we’re working
outward voices in our lab we’re working on teaching machines to understand those
on teaching machines to understand those
on teaching machines to understand those subtle differences and we we use deep
subtle differences and we we use deep
subtle differences and we we use deep learning to create a real-time speaker
learning to create a real-time speaker
learning to create a real-time speaker identification system to help raise
identification system to help raise
identification system to help raise awareness on the shared of on the use of
awareness on the shared of on the use of
awareness on the shared of on the use of the shared vocal space so who talks and
the shared vocal space so who talks and
the shared vocal space so who talks and who never talks during meetings to
who never talks during meetings to
who never talks during meetings to increase group intelligence and one of
increase group intelligence and one of
increase group intelligence and one of the difficulties with that is that your
the difficulties with that is that your
the difficulties with that is that your voice is also not static we already said
voice is also not static we already said
voice is also not static we already said that it changes with every person you
that it changes with every person you
that it changes with every person you talk to but it also changes generally
talk to but it also changes generally
talk to but it also changes generally throughout your life at the beginning
throughout your life at the beginning
throughout your life at the beginning and at the end of the journey male and
and at the end of the journey male and
and at the end of the journey male and female voices are very similar it’s very
female voices are very similar it’s very
female voices are very similar it’s very hard to distinguish the voice of a very
hard to distinguish the voice of a very
hard to distinguish the voice of a very young girl from the voice of a very
young girl from the voice of a very
young girl from the voice of a very young boy but in the between your voice
young boy but in the between your voice
young boy but in the between your voice become a marker of your fluid identity
become a marker of your fluid identity
become a marker of your fluid identity and generally for male voices there is a
and generally for male voices there is a
and generally for male voices there is a big change at puberty and then for
big change at puberty and then for
big change at puberty and then for female voices there is a change at each
female voices there is a change at each
female voices there is a change at each pregnancy and a big change at menopause
pregnancy and a big change at menopause
pregnancy and a big change at menopause so all of that is the voice other people
so all of that is the voice other people
so all of that is the voice other people hear when you talk so why is it that we
hear when you talk so why is it that we
hear when you talk so why is it that we are so unfamiliar with it why is it that
are so unfamiliar with it why is it that
are so unfamiliar with it why is it that it’s not the voice that we hear so let’s
it’s not the voice that we hear so let’s
it’s not the voice that we hear so let’s think about it when you wear a mask you
think about it when you wear a mask you
think about it when you wear a mask you actually don’t see the mask and when you
actually don’t see the mask and when you
actually don’t see the mask and when you try to observe it what you will see is
try to observe it what you will see is
try to observe it what you will see is inside of the mask and that’s your
inside of the mask and that’s your
inside of the mask and that’s your inward voice so to understand why it’s
inward voice so to understand why it’s
inward voice so to understand why it’s different let’s try to understand the
different let’s try to understand the
different let’s try to understand the mechanism of perception of this inward
mechanism of perception of this inward
mechanism of perception of this inward voice because your body has many ways of
voice because your body has many ways of
voice because your body has many ways of filtering it differently from the
filtering it differently from the
filtering it differently from the outward voice so to perceive this voice
outward voice so to perceive this voice
outward voice so to perceive this voice it first has to travel to your ears and
it first has to travel to your ears and
it first has to travel to your ears and your outward voice travels through the
your outward voice travels through the
your outward voice travels through the air while your inward voice travels
air while your inward voice travels
air while your inward voice travels through your bones this is called bone
through your bones this is called bone
through your bones this is called bone conduction and because of this
conduction and because of this
conduction and because of this your inner voice is gonna sound in a
your inner voice is gonna sound in a
your inner voice is gonna sound in a lower register and also more musically
lower register and also more musically
lower register and also more musically harmonically harmonically than your
harmonically harmonically than your
harmonically harmonically than your outward voice once it travels there it
outward voice once it travels there it
outward voice once it travels there it has to access your inner ear and there
has to access your inner ear and there
has to access your inner ear and there is a subtle mechanism taking place here
is a subtle mechanism taking place here
is a subtle mechanism taking place here it’s a it’s a mechanical filter it’s a
it’s a it’s a mechanical filter it’s a
it’s a it’s a mechanical filter it’s a little partition that comes and protects
little partition that comes and protects
little partition that comes and protects your inner ear each time you produces a
your inner ear each time you produces a
your inner ear each time you produces a sound so that also reduces what you hear
sound so that also reduces what you hear
sound so that also reduces what you hear and then there is a third filter it’s a
and then there is a third filter it’s a
and then there is a third filter it’s a biological filter you’re in your cochlea
biological filter you’re in your cochlea
biological filter you’re in your cochlea it’s a part of your inner ear that
it’s a part of your inner ear that
it’s a part of your inner ear that processes the sound is made out of
processes the sound is made out of
processes the sound is made out of living cells and those living cells are
living cells and those living cells are
living cells and those living cells are going to trigger it differently
going to trigger it differently
going to trigger it differently according to how often they hear the
according to how often they hear the
according to how often they hear the sound it’s an arbitration effect so
sound it’s an arbitration effect so
sound it’s an arbitration effect so because of this as your voice is the
because of this as your voice is the
because of this as your voice is the sound you hear the most in your life you
sound you hear the most in your life you
sound you hear the most in your life you actually hear it less than all the
actually hear it less than all the
actually hear it less than all the sounds finally we have a force filter
sounds finally we have a force filter
sounds finally we have a force filter it’s a neurological filter neurologist
it’s a neurological filter neurologist
it’s a neurological filter neurologist found out recently that when you open
found out recently that when you open
found out recently that when you open your mouth to create a sound your own
your mouth to create a sound your own
your mouth to create a sound your own auditory cortex shuts down so you hear
auditory cortex shuts down so you hear
auditory cortex shuts down so you hear your voice but your brain actually never
your voice but your brain actually never
your voice but your brain actually never listens to the sound of your voice
listens to the sound of your voice
listens to the sound of your voice well if occasionally that might make
well if occasionally that might make
well if occasionally that might make sense because we know Coakley’s even
sense because we know Coakley’s even
sense because we know Coakley’s even what you’re gonna sound like so maybe we
what you’re gonna sound like so maybe we
what you’re gonna sound like so maybe we don’t need to spend energy analyzing the
don’t need to spend energy analyzing the
don’t need to spend energy analyzing the signal and this is called a corollary
signal and this is called a corollary
signal and this is called a corollary discharge and this happened for every
discharge and this happened for every
discharge and this happened for every motion that your body does the exact
motion that your body does the exact
motion that your body does the exact definition of a corollary discharge is a
definition of a corollary discharge is a
definition of a corollary discharge is a copy of a motor command that is sent by
copy of a motor command that is sent by
copy of a motor command that is sent by the brain this copy doesn’t create any
the brain this copy doesn’t create any
the brain this copy doesn’t create any motion itself but instead is sent to
motion itself but instead is sent to
motion itself but instead is sent to other regions of the brain to inform
other regions of the brain to inform
other regions of the brain to inform them of the impending motion and for the
them of the impending motion and for the
them of the impending motion and for the voice this corollary discharge also has
voice this corollary discharge also has
voice this corollary discharge also has a different name it is your inner voice
a different name it is your inner voice
a different name it is your inner voice so let’s recapitulate we have the masks
so let’s recapitulate we have the masks
so let’s recapitulate we have the masks outward voice the inside of the mask you
outward voice the inside of the mask you
outward voice the inside of the mask you enoyed voice and then you have your
enoyed voice and then you have your
enoyed voice and then you have your inner voice and I like to see this one
inner voice and I like to see this one
inner voice and I like to see this one as the puppeteer that holds the strings
as the puppeteer that holds the strings
as the puppeteer that holds the strings of the whole system
of the whole system
of the whole system and your inner voice is so when you hear
and your inner voice is so when you hear
and your inner voice is so when you hear when you read the text silently when you
when you read the text silently when you
when you read the text silently when you rehearse for an important conversation
rehearse for an important conversation
rehearse for an important conversation sometime it’s hard to turn it off right
sometime it’s hard to turn it off right
sometime it’s hard to turn it off right is really hard to look at the text
is really hard to look at the text
is really hard to look at the text written in your native language without
written in your native language without
written in your native language without having this inner voice read it it also
having this inner voice read it it also
having this inner voice read it it also the voice that refuses to stop singing
the voice that refuses to stop singing
the voice that refuses to stop singing this stupid song you have in your head
and for some people it’s actually
and for some people it’s actually impossible to control it and that the
impossible to control it and that the
impossible to control it and that the case of schizophrenic patients who have
case of schizophrenic patients who have
case of schizophrenic patients who have auditory hallucinations who can’t
auditory hallucinations who can’t
auditory hallucinations who can’t distinguish at all between voices coming
distinguish at all between voices coming
distinguish at all between voices coming from inside and outside the head so in
from inside and outside the head so in
from inside and outside the head so in our lab we are also working on small
our lab we are also working on small
our lab we are also working on small devices to help those people make those
devices to help those people make those
devices to help those people make those distinction and know if the voice is
distinction and know if the voice is
distinction and know if the voice is internal or external you can also think
internal or external you can also think
internal or external you can also think about the inner voice as a voice that
about the inner voice as a voice that
about the inner voice as a voice that speak in your dream this universe can
speak in your dream this universe can
speak in your dream this universe can take many forms and in your dreams you
take many forms and in your dreams you
take many forms and in your dreams you actually unleash the potential of this
actually unleash the potential of this
actually unleash the potential of this inner voice that’s another work we are
inner voice that’s another work we are
inner voice that’s another work we are doing in our lab trying to access this
doing in our lab trying to access this
doing in our lab trying to access this inner voice in dreams so even if you
inner voice in dreams so even if you
inner voice in dreams so even if you can’t always control it the inner voice
can’t always control it the inner voice
can’t always control it the inner voice you can always engage with it through
you can always engage with it through
you can always engage with it through dialogue from inner dialogues and you
dialogue from inner dialogues and you
dialogue from inner dialogues and you can even see this inner voice as the
can even see this inner voice as the
can even see this inner voice as the missing link between salt and actions so
missing link between salt and actions so
missing link between salt and actions so I hope I’ve left you with a better
I hope I’ve left you with a better
I hope I’ve left you with a better appreciation a new appreciation of all
appreciation a new appreciation of all
appreciation a new appreciation of all of you voices and the roles it plays
of you voices and the roles it plays
of you voices and the roles it plays inside and outside of you as for your
inside and outside of you as for your
inside and outside of you as for your voice is a very critical determinant of
voice is a very critical determinant of
voice is a very critical determinant of what makes you humans and of how you
what makes you humans and of how you
what makes you humans and of how you interact with the world
”
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