Interdisciplinary Research
I am a lecturer in Digital Media at the University of Hull. I am also a visiting researcher at The University of York supported by a Wingate Scholarship.
My interest is simulating 'liveness' in computer speech systems, particularly in text-to-speech synthesis. I am also interested in opera and performance.
I completed my PhD in Computer Science at The University of York in the Human-Computer Interaction Group and have a MSc(distinction) in Interactive Multimedia Production from The University of Huddersfield. I also have undergraduate qualifications from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and L'Università per Stranieri di Perugia in Italy.
At Hull I teach BA/BSc modules in:
Interaction Design
Performance and Creative Technologies
Interaction Experience and Engagement
MSc modules in:
Media Design and Interaction
Interdisciplinarity: “… a mutual appropriation and reappropriation of tools and techniques from one field to another with no assumption of a shared understanding either at the level of problems or at the level of concerns and background.” (Franchi & Güzeldere 2005, p.101)
I would be interested in supervising research students in interdisciplinary projects in any of - computer science/HCI/music/theatre performance and opera (There must be lots of you out there!)
I am in a 'Blues' band called 'B-Loose' which is composed of my wife and children and a friend Alan Swain.
The menu on the right links to some pages describing my work so far.
Chris Newell
October 2011
Christopher Newell: Latest News
CREST Network
Alistair Edwards at York and I are leading an EPSRC funded network to explore creative speech technology. The Creative Speech Technology Network (CreST Network)
The Magic Flute
Over the summer I directed a production of the Magic Flute for Co-Opera-Co. It is currently on tour. Here is a page of pictures.
The Tingle Factor
During the production of The Magic Flute I worked with colleagues from the Culture Lab at Newcastle University and the Departments of Sociology and Electronics at the University of York on a pilot study for a new project 'The Tingle Factor.' We had an article published by 'The Opera Critic'
and the Guardian
and a Short Radio 3 interview
Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Practices Cluster
With my colleague Aristita Albacan I have co-developed a research cluster ICP Cluster. My working goup explore the voiceless community.
Wingate Scholarship
The project has evolved into a melodrama with sythetic voice and soprano. It is supported by David Howard and Alistair Edwards at York and composed by Paul Barker at CSSD. Performances will be in the autumn of 2011.
Book
I am developing an interdisciplinary book on speech technologies with Roger Moore at Sheffield University.
Old News
The Place, Authenticity, Time framework for liveness in computer speech.
In April 2008 I produced a performance at the University of Hull of works by Andrews, Ayckbourn, Beckett and Chance that demonstrated the system used to generate the speech used in The Place, Authenticity, Time framework for liveness in computer speech.
