Voiceprint-Identification Infallibility

Abstract

Previously reported work demonstrated that a high degree of speaker-identification accuracy could be achieved by visually matching the Voiceprint (spectrogram) of an unknown speaker's utterance with a similar Voiceprint in a group of reference prints. Both reference and unknown utterances consisted of single cue words excerpted from contextual material. An extension of the experimental showed identification success in excess of 99% when the reference and unknown patterns were enlarged to 5- and 10-word groups. Other experiments showed that professional ventriloquists and mimics cannot create voices or imitate others without revealing their own identities. Attempts to disguise the voice by use of various mechanical manipulations and devices were also unsuccessful. Experiments with a population expanded over the original 25 speakers showed that identification success does not decrease substantially with larger groups.