Journal Paper Summary

A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Subject Requirements in Signal Spectra and Signal Processing

Submitted By: Alexia Dale P. Mendoza

Submitted To: Engr. Arlene C. Grate

Manchester University Press: An International Journal

The foundations of digital signal processing using Signal Wizard Systems

Patrick Gaydeck

Abstract: Signal Wizard Systems is a digital signal processing (DSP) research venture within the School of EEE at the University of Manchester, UK. It specializes in the development and supply of real-time DSP products for audio signal analysis and processing. The unique and underpinning philosophy of these products is their ease of use. The systems require minimal knowledge of DSP theory on the part of the user and none of the mathematics associated with digital lter design. Filters and other algorithms can be designed in seconds, downloaded and executed in real time with just a few mouse clicks. Since 2004 Signal Wizard products have been sold all over the world for applications was ranging from noise suppression, adaptive ltering and system modeling to musical instrument research. In particular, their ease of use ensures that they are ideally suited for teaching simple and more advanced concepts in DSP both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. For this purpose, a DSP laboratory teaching package has been developed using the Signal Wizard range of devices, and has proven an invaluable tool for training our student cohort in the practical aspects of DSP engineering design and programming.

I. System or Issue being investigated This research is mainly about the applicability and usability of Signal Wizard Systems, a digital signal processing (DSP) research venture within the School of EEE at the University of Manchester, UK, as a platform for real-time DSP in the laboratory at Masters level to non-expert students. This system is said to be easy to use and avoids the requirement of programming. This system will be tested to be a foundation of Digital Signal Processing (DSP), DSP is the mathematical manipulation of an information signal to modify or improve it in some way. It is characterized by the representation of discrete time, discrete frequency, or other discrete domain signals by a sequence of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. This system is said to require minimal knowledge of DSP theory on the part of the user and none of the mathematics associated with other design. With this system, filters and other algorithms can be designed in a short period of time, downloaded and executed in real-time with few mouse click.

II. Overview of the situation Digital signal processing evolved from an obscure discipline into a technology that is pivotal to the infrastructure of society, our personal lives and scientific endeavors. Our industry is growing fast and application areas are expanding rapidly, but the one constant and perhaps most significant barrier to learning is the investment in terms of time and intellectual effort required to understand the functions and instruction set of a particular device, construct the system, and write the algorithms. This cycle requires a long period of time. Signal Wizard Systems were developed to address these obstacles. They are complete, integrated devices for real-time and offline DSP without the need for

specialist, mathematics or theory. They comprise advanced, purpose-designed hardware modules that implement the DSP operations in real time, and software that controls the hardware according to the users requirements. Most important, the systems require minimal knowledge of DSP theory on the part of the user and none of the mathematics associated with digital filter design.

III. Objectives of the research work The primary objective of this research work is to be able to prove that signal wizard system is suitable for school and laboratory and a system that can implement the digital signal processing in real-time, and software that could control equipments according to the users preferences. Also, this system was developed in order to provide both undergraduate and postgraduate school a system that is suited for as a research tool and teaching aids. On the other hand, it can also be that this research work aims to provide students with the skills which industry requires. IV. Overview of the results In order to find out whether Signal Wizard System is more suitable than theoretical approach, they have decided to conduct laboratory activity. Traditional DSP laboratory experiments often focus on the use of filtering algorithms to enhance or suppress particular frequencies, using sine waves as inputs to the DSP hardware or software. With this approach, it has been found out that this approach rather dry and uninspiring, since it does not reflect how DSP systems are used in real world applications. With the use of Signal Wizard System in laboratory activity, students confirm that the laboratory activity using the system is both an invaluable and indispensable component of the teaching course; indeed, students frequently regard this as the most useful and enjoy able aspect of the entire DSP program.

V. Conclusion and recommendations With the promising outcome and positive feedback from the students, it is undoubtedly that Signal Wizard Systems provide real-time DSP systems that operate in the audio frequency bandwidth. They are supplied with intelligent, intuitive software that greatly facilitates the design procedure. They are therefore suited not only for research purposes, but also for the teaching of DSP at all university levels. With this result, it is now possible for students to see the beauty and the real world application of DSP which will surely encouraged aspiring students to exert more efforts on studying DSP and other related topics. Since this system showed a truly splendid result, I would like to recommend to the researchers if they could make another system that can be used for other process aside from DSP that shall beneficial for institutions for their research and teaching purposes. Also, if they could make a system that can show students the real-world application of other topics that may seem boring and untruthful when discussed theoretically.

VI. References Signal Wizard System http://www.signalwizardsystems.com/ Digital Signal Processing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processing