Jon Boley

Audio Algorithms, Psychoacoustics & Neural Coding

Jon Boley
PhD Student
jdboley (a) purdue.edu

Purdue University links
Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Science

Research | Publications | Education | Experience

(Labmates - click HERE for the lab calendar, and HERE to visit the lab website.)

Click HERE for a copy of my CV.

Research

I'm working in the Auditory Neurophysiology and Modeling Lab at Purdue University.
We study neural coding and auditory perception with the goal of understanding how the two work together. Our lab has three main areas of focus:

Auditory Neurophysiology (measuring single neuron responses on normal and impaired hearing chinchillas)

Computational Modeling (modeling the neural signals and predicting the resulting perception)

Psychoacoustics (conducting listening experiments with normal and impaired hearing humans)

My goal is to develop novel audio DSP algorithms based on a knowledge of all these areas. With a thorough understanding of perception and the underlying neurophysiology, I hope to come up with some new technologies that really improve audio quality.
Here's a list of a few classes I'm taking along the way:

Auditory Periphery

Psychophysics

Neural Bases of Hearing

Auditory Perception

Auditory Neuroscience

Biomedical Signal Processing

My research (funded by an NIH F31 fellowship) focuses on neural coding of amplified sounds. Very little is known about the effects of hearing impairment on temporal coding of auditory nerve fibers. Even less is known about the effects of a hearing aid on this coding. This project will attempt to quantify temporal coding of hearing through a hearing aid. The ultimate goal is to design a hearing aid algorithm that restores temporal coding as much as possible.

By the way, I'm putting together a website to organize my knowledge about all this stuff:
PerceptualEntropy.com

Posters

Boley, J. and M. Heinz, Predicted Effects of Amplification on Spatiotemporal Coding of Vowels in Noise, International Hearing Aid Research Conference, August 2010.

Kale, S., J. Boley, J. Swaminathan, M. Heinz, Within and across fiber temporal fine structure coding following noise induced hearing loss, 33rd Midwinter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, February 2010.

Boley, J. and M. Heinz, Quantifying the Effects of Hearing Aid Dynamics on Temporal Coding in the Auditory Nerve, First International Symposium on Audible Acoustics in Medicine and Physiology, September 2008.

Publications

Gaston, L., J. Ratterman, S. Selter, and J. Boley, The Influence of Individual Audio Impairments on Perceived Video Quality. 128th Audio Engineering Society Convention, May 2010.

Heinz, M., J. Swaminathan, J. Boley, and S. Kale, "Across-Fiber Coding of Temporal Fine-Structure: Effects of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss on Auditory Nerve Responses," in The Neurophysiological Bases of Auditory Perception. Springer (New York), 2010.

Boley, J. and M. Lester, "Statistical Analysis of ABX Results Using Signal Detection Theory" 2009 (127th Audio Engineering Society Convention)

Lester, M. and J. Boley, The Effects of Latency on Live Sound Monitoring. 123rd Audio Engineering Society Convention, October 2007.

Boley, J. Auditory Component Analysis. 121st Audio Engineering Society Convention, October 2006.

Education

PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University (expected 2011)

MS, Music Engineering, University of Miami (May 2005)
Thesis: "Auditory Component Analysis: Using Perceptual Pattern Recognition to Identify and Extract Independent Components from an Auditory Scene"

BS, Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (May 2003)

Certificate, Electronic Equipment Repair, Lake County Area Vocational Center (June 1998)

Experience

LSB Audio, LLC, Co-Founder & DSP Consultant (August 2007 - Present)
Various part-time projects involving audio algorithm development, embedded firmware coding, reverse engineering, optimization, and audio quality assessment.: Specializing in:

algorithm research and development
auditory modeling
psychoacoustics
audio coding
spatialization
source segregation/separation

Shure Incorporated, Senior DSP Engineer (May 2005 - August 2007)
Responsible for research and advanced development of real time DSP algorithms for wireless audio technologies.
Researched several error concealment techniques, designed a novel algorithm (patent pending) in Matlab, and developed a real-time fixed-point implementation of this algorithm on a Texas Instruments c55x DSP.
Optimized a dynamics algorithm to reduce latency by 50%, power consumption by 60%, and memory by 80%.
Managed outsourcing relationship with an external codec developer- managing expectations, defining requirements, and verifying performance of new algorithms.
Conducted formal listening tests to evaluate performance of an algorithm prototype. Orchestrated an effort to standardize company listening tests.

University of Miami, Teaching Assistant (August 2004 - May 2005)
Responsible for teaching various laboratory classes and lectures.
Developed a curriculum and taught a DSP laboratory class, focusing on practical implementations.
Lectured occasional classes in "Fundamentals of Acoustics" and "Principles of Digital Audio".

Shure Incorporated, Audio DSP Intern (Summers 2003-2004)
Responsible for the development and implementation of real-time DSP algorithms for live sound reinforcement.
Ported several DSP algorithms from existing infrastructure to work on a future product. Successfully tested each algorithm on an Audio Precision System 2.
Redesigned dynamic range compressor algorithm to improve level detection and attack characteristics.
Developed microcontroller interface for monitoring audio level meters and coded the algorithms for each processor to calculate the necessary values. Participated in design and code reviews for all algorithms.
Developed a sweeping tone generator in Matlab and successfully implemented the algorithm on an Analog Devices Sharc processor.
Ported feedback reduction algorithm from floating-point code to fixed-point, and optimized the code for use on an Analog Devices Blackfin processor.

University of Illinois, Research Assistant (February - August 2003)
Responsible for development of hardware and audio software for an audio-visual speech recognition system.
Designed an adaptive beam-steering algorithm for a microphone array.
Designed a prototype hardware system and developed a database of speech recordings.

Motorola, Engineering Intern (Summers 2000-2001 and May-December 2002)
2002 - Responsible for development of embedded software for improving sound quality of hands-free phones.

Developed embedded (PowerPC Processor) and PC (MFC) software for real-time tuning of echo cancellation and noise suppression algorithms in automotive hands-free phone systems (e.g. OnStar).
Researched and implemented (in Matlab) various DSP algorithms for an improved double-talk detector to be used in hands-free software.

2001 - Responsible for researching and testing MEMS inertial sensors, including gyroscopes and accelerometers.
Developed and utilized an automated testing system for testing parametric responses. Used LabView software as well as basic lab equipment.
Conducted various validation tests (noise, vibration response, drift, etc.) with an oscilloscope to determine the signal processing needed for product realization.

2000 - Responsible for characterizing competitors’ cellular phones for benchmarking purposes.
Trained a team of engineers to conduct current drain tests for benchmarking purposes. Utilized cellular communication equipment as well as LabView software.
Helped provide group with RF block diagrams of competitors' cellular phones by conducting measurements with a spectrum analyzer to identify signal flow in RX and TX circuits.

Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.
Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.
Shure Incorporated, Senior DSP Engineer (May 2005 - August 2007)
Responsible for research and advanced development of real time DSP algorithms for wireless audio technologies.: Researched several error concealment techniques, designed a novel algorithm (patent pending) in Matlab, and developed a real-time fixed-point implementation of this algorithm on a Texas Instruments c55x DSP.
Optimized a dynamics algorithm to reduce latency by 50%, power consumption by 60%, and memory by 80%.
Managed outsourcing relationship with an external codec developer- managing expectations, defining requirements, and verifying performance of new algorithms.
Conducted formal listening tests to evaluate performance of an algorithm prototype. Orchestrated an effort to standardize company listening tests.

University of Miami, Teaching Assistant (August 2004 - May 2005)
Responsible for teaching various laboratory classes and lectures.
Developed a curriculum and taught a DSP laboratory class, focusing on practical implementations.
Lectured occasional classes in "Fundamentals of Acoustics" and "Principles of Digital Audio".

Shure Incorporated, Audio DSP Intern (Summers 2003-2004)
Responsible for the development and implementation of real-time DSP algorithms for live sound reinforcement.
Ported several DSP algorithms from existing infrastructure to work on a future product. Successfully tested each algorithm on an Audio Precision System 2.
Redesigned dynamic range compressor algorithm to improve level detection and attack characteristics.
Developed microcontroller interface for monitoring audio level meters and coded the algorithms for each processor to calculate the necessary values. Participated in design and code reviews for all algorithms.
Developed a sweeping tone generator in Matlab and successfully implemented the algorithm on an Analog Devices Sharc processor.
Ported feedback reduction algorithm from floating-point code to fixed-point, and optimized the code for use on an Analog Devices Blackfin processor.

University of Illinois, Research Assistant (February - August 2003)
Responsible for development of hardware and audio software for an audio-visual speech recognition system.
Designed an adaptive beam-steering algorithm for a microphone array.
Designed a prototype hardware system and developed a database of speech recordings.

Motorola, Engineering Intern (Summers 2000-2001 and May-December 2002)
2002 - Responsible for development of embedded software for improving sound quality of hands-free phones.

Developed embedded (PowerPC Processor) and PC (MFC) software for real-time tuning of echo cancellation and noise suppression algorithms in automotive hands-free phone systems (e.g. OnStar).
Researched and implemented (in Matlab) various DSP algorithms for an improved double-talk detector to be used in hands-free software.

2001 - Responsible for researching and testing MEMS inertial sensors, including gyroscopes and accelerometers.
Developed and utilized an automated testing system for testing parametric responses. Used LabView software as well as basic lab equipment.
Conducted various validation tests (noise, vibration response, drift, etc.) with an oscilloscope to determine the signal processing needed for product realization.

2000 - Responsible for characterizing competitors’ cellular phones for benchmarking purposes.
Trained a team of engineers to conduct current drain tests for benchmarking purposes. Utilized cellular communication equipment as well as LabView software.
Helped provide group with RF block diagrams of competitors' cellular phones by conducting measurements with a spectrum analyzer to identify signal flow in RX and TX circuits.

Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.
Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.
University of Miami, Teaching Assistant (August 2004 - May 2005)
Responsible for teaching various laboratory classes and lectures.: Developed a curriculum and taught a DSP laboratory class, focusing on practical implementations.
Lectured occasional classes in "Fundamentals of Acoustics" and "Principles of Digital Audio".

Shure Incorporated, Audio DSP Intern (Summers 2003-2004)
Responsible for the development and implementation of real-time DSP algorithms for live sound reinforcement.
Ported several DSP algorithms from existing infrastructure to work on a future product. Successfully tested each algorithm on an Audio Precision System 2.
Redesigned dynamic range compressor algorithm to improve level detection and attack characteristics.
Developed microcontroller interface for monitoring audio level meters and coded the algorithms for each processor to calculate the necessary values. Participated in design and code reviews for all algorithms.
Developed a sweeping tone generator in Matlab and successfully implemented the algorithm on an Analog Devices Sharc processor.
Ported feedback reduction algorithm from floating-point code to fixed-point, and optimized the code for use on an Analog Devices Blackfin processor.

University of Illinois, Research Assistant (February - August 2003)
Responsible for development of hardware and audio software for an audio-visual speech recognition system.
Designed an adaptive beam-steering algorithm for a microphone array.
Designed a prototype hardware system and developed a database of speech recordings.

Motorola, Engineering Intern (Summers 2000-2001 and May-December 2002)
2002 - Responsible for development of embedded software for improving sound quality of hands-free phones.

Developed embedded (PowerPC Processor) and PC (MFC) software for real-time tuning of echo cancellation and noise suppression algorithms in automotive hands-free phone systems (e.g. OnStar).
Researched and implemented (in Matlab) various DSP algorithms for an improved double-talk detector to be used in hands-free software.

2001 - Responsible for researching and testing MEMS inertial sensors, including gyroscopes and accelerometers.
Developed and utilized an automated testing system for testing parametric responses. Used LabView software as well as basic lab equipment.
Conducted various validation tests (noise, vibration response, drift, etc.) with an oscilloscope to determine the signal processing needed for product realization.

2000 - Responsible for characterizing competitors’ cellular phones for benchmarking purposes.
Trained a team of engineers to conduct current drain tests for benchmarking purposes. Utilized cellular communication equipment as well as LabView software.
Helped provide group with RF block diagrams of competitors' cellular phones by conducting measurements with a spectrum analyzer to identify signal flow in RX and TX circuits.

Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.
Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.
Shure Incorporated, Audio DSP Intern (Summers 2003-2004)
Responsible for the development and implementation of real-time DSP algorithms for live sound reinforcement.: Ported several DSP algorithms from existing infrastructure to work on a future product. Successfully tested each algorithm on an Audio Precision System 2.
Redesigned dynamic range compressor algorithm to improve level detection and attack characteristics.
Developed microcontroller interface for monitoring audio level meters and coded the algorithms for each processor to calculate the necessary values. Participated in design and code reviews for all algorithms.
Developed a sweeping tone generator in Matlab and successfully implemented the algorithm on an Analog Devices Sharc processor.
Ported feedback reduction algorithm from floating-point code to fixed-point, and optimized the code for use on an Analog Devices Blackfin processor.

University of Illinois, Research Assistant (February - August 2003)
Responsible for development of hardware and audio software for an audio-visual speech recognition system.
Designed an adaptive beam-steering algorithm for a microphone array.
Designed a prototype hardware system and developed a database of speech recordings.

Motorola, Engineering Intern (Summers 2000-2001 and May-December 2002)
2002 - Responsible for development of embedded software for improving sound quality of hands-free phones.

Developed embedded (PowerPC Processor) and PC (MFC) software for real-time tuning of echo cancellation and noise suppression algorithms in automotive hands-free phone systems (e.g. OnStar).
Researched and implemented (in Matlab) various DSP algorithms for an improved double-talk detector to be used in hands-free software.

2001 - Responsible for researching and testing MEMS inertial sensors, including gyroscopes and accelerometers.
Developed and utilized an automated testing system for testing parametric responses. Used LabView software as well as basic lab equipment.
Conducted various validation tests (noise, vibration response, drift, etc.) with an oscilloscope to determine the signal processing needed for product realization.

2000 - Responsible for characterizing competitors’ cellular phones for benchmarking purposes.
Trained a team of engineers to conduct current drain tests for benchmarking purposes. Utilized cellular communication equipment as well as LabView software.
Helped provide group with RF block diagrams of competitors' cellular phones by conducting measurements with a spectrum analyzer to identify signal flow in RX and TX circuits.

Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.
Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.
University of Illinois, Research Assistant (February - August 2003)
Responsible for development of hardware and audio software for an audio-visual speech recognition system.: Designed an adaptive beam-steering algorithm for a microphone array.
Designed a prototype hardware system and developed a database of speech recordings.

Motorola, Engineering Intern (Summers 2000-2001 and May-December 2002)
2002 - Responsible for development of embedded software for improving sound quality of hands-free phones.

Developed embedded (PowerPC Processor) and PC (MFC) software for real-time tuning of echo cancellation and noise suppression algorithms in automotive hands-free phone systems (e.g. OnStar).
Researched and implemented (in Matlab) various DSP algorithms for an improved double-talk detector to be used in hands-free software.

2001 - Responsible for researching and testing MEMS inertial sensors, including gyroscopes and accelerometers.
Developed and utilized an automated testing system for testing parametric responses. Used LabView software as well as basic lab equipment.
Conducted various validation tests (noise, vibration response, drift, etc.) with an oscilloscope to determine the signal processing needed for product realization.

2000 - Responsible for characterizing competitors’ cellular phones for benchmarking purposes.
Trained a team of engineers to conduct current drain tests for benchmarking purposes. Utilized cellular communication equipment as well as LabView software.
Helped provide group with RF block diagrams of competitors' cellular phones by conducting measurements with a spectrum analyzer to identify signal flow in RX and TX circuits.

Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.
Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.
Motorola, Engineering Intern (Summers 2000-2001 and May-December 2002)
2002 - Responsible for development of embedded software for improving sound quality of hands-free phones.: Developed embedded (PowerPC Processor) and PC (MFC) software for real-time tuning of echo cancellation and noise suppression algorithms in automotive hands-free phone systems (e.g. OnStar).
Researched and implemented (in Matlab) various DSP algorithms for an improved double-talk detector to be used in hands-free software.

2001 - Responsible for researching and testing MEMS inertial sensors, including gyroscopes and accelerometers.
Developed and utilized an automated testing system for testing parametric responses. Used LabView software as well as basic lab equipment.
Conducted various validation tests (noise, vibration response, drift, etc.) with an oscilloscope to determine the signal processing needed for product realization.

2000 - Responsible for characterizing competitors’ cellular phones for benchmarking purposes.
Trained a team of engineers to conduct current drain tests for benchmarking purposes. Utilized cellular communication equipment as well as LabView software.
Helped provide group with RF block diagrams of competitors' cellular phones by conducting measurements with a spectrum analyzer to identify signal flow in RX and TX circuits.

Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.
Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.
2001 - Responsible for researching and testing MEMS inertial sensors, including gyroscopes and accelerometers.: Developed and utilized an automated testing system for testing parametric responses. Used LabView software as well as basic lab equipment.
Conducted various validation tests (noise, vibration response, drift, etc.) with an oscilloscope to determine the signal processing needed for product realization.

2000 - Responsible for characterizing competitors’ cellular phones for benchmarking purposes.
Trained a team of engineers to conduct current drain tests for benchmarking purposes. Utilized cellular communication equipment as well as LabView software.
Helped provide group with RF block diagrams of competitors' cellular phones by conducting measurements with a spectrum analyzer to identify signal flow in RX and TX circuits.

Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.
Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.
2000 - Responsible for characterizing competitors’ cellular phones for benchmarking purposes.: Trained a team of engineers to conduct current drain tests for benchmarking purposes. Utilized cellular communication equipment as well as LabView software.
Helped provide group with RF block diagrams of competitors' cellular phones by conducting measurements with a spectrum analyzer to identify signal flow in RX and TX circuits.

Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.
Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.
Drivecon, Electronics Technician (Summer 1998)
Responsible for assembly and troubleshooting of drive control units for industrial cranes.: Assembled and modified PCB’s (soldering, potting, etc.)
Troubleshot circuits (using a schematic and oscilloscope) and made appropriate repairs.

http://www.jboley.com