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TO: AD/OSI A FROM : Deputy Security Officer

DATE: 27 July 1951

Thore is attached a report dated 26 June 1951 concorning a denonstration of equipment by the "Sono-Graph,"the "Sonalator" and the "Sona-Stretcher." This report is rcferred as being of possible interest in connection with research under Project Bluebird. At this time it does not appear that these instruments vould be of value to I&sS as they are cfahighly technical nature and their use docs not appear to be adaptable to field operations. In addi.tion the ovurall results of this technique do not seem to add anything to our field teams but thero is a possibility CSI may find that such instruments are vorthy of further development.

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TO A FROM A SUBJ

In compliance with your telephone request of 25 June,
today I attended a demonstration of several units of electronic
speech analvzation equipment. This denonstration Was held in B among those"present. C

The equipment on display was contained in three metal cases. Since this display was somewhat a pilot model and quite bulky, it could in no sense be considered for extensive portable use. Upon inquiry I was advised that considerable reductions in weight and size could be made on future models.

A, factory representative and electronic C engineer gave a very thorough and detailed explanation and actual demonstration of the "Sono-Graph", the "Sonalator" and ths "Sona-Stretcher". Following is briefly what each device will accomplish with comments on our possible usage.

THE SONA-STREICHLR A device for the study of speech characteristics. Py reducing the speed to one half, speech imperfections or other unusual defects can be detected. Students would then be ahle to learn actual language pronunciations more quickly, COMENT It was brought out in the discussion that an operator well trained might detect peculiar speech characteristics which could reveal the area where a subject learned to speak a particular language. I.L. A foreign-born subject speaking what appeared to be perfect English, would retain irregularities which could not be heard at normal speed. It is helieved that much research and training would be necessary before such a mcthod could be used with any degres of accuracy.

THE SONAGTOR When words are snoken into a microphone, the Sonactor transforms this speech into visible patterns on an oscilloscope which are visible only as they are being spoken. This visible sneech system is said to be useful in phonetic studies, speech training and education of the deaf.

26 June 1951

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COMFNT While certain training in speech might be beneficial, again it is helieved that no individual less than a phonetician could make this piece of equipment applicable to our needs.

THE SONA-GRAPH Ths spoken word is recorded on a carbon hacked recording paper via the heated stylus method. This device records complex audio frequency waves and provides two recorded analyses of these waves. These records are useful in phonetic studiss, speoch education of the deaf, speech impediment correction and foreign language instruction. (Sanple attached). COMENT As in the cass of two previously described devices it is believed that some consideration should be given as to whether this equipment might be benificially used. It is an established fact that several men have trained themselves in some way so that when any person speaks a few words to this individual, he can accurately determine where a person was born or spent much of their childhood in a high percentage of persons tested. For this reason the extent of training needed for an operator should be fully exploited before consideration is given regarding the usage of this equipment in the future.