Design and Usability Evaluation of a Web-Based Pitch Control Training App for Transgender Women

Xiangyi Wang, Sam Weese, Tara McAllister, Victoria McKenna, Vesna Novak

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Transgender people often experience dysphoria because the way their voice is perceived does not match their gender identity. Such dysphoria negatively affects mental health and quality of life, and is particularly an issue in trans women. Dysphoria can be reduced via gender-affirming voice and communication training provided by human experts, but the accessibility of such training is often limited. As a supplement or alternative to human-guided training, our team has thus developed an early prototype of voice training software for transfeminine users (i.e., trans women and nonbinary users who were assigned male at birth). The software is accessible via a web browser and provides three vocal pitch exercises together with real-time feedback about the user’s pitch relative to a desired target pitch curve. This paper presents the main technical features and results of a single-session usability evaluation with 5 transfeminine participants. We further present future plans for expansion to other exercises and voice aspects (particularly resonance) as well as plans for clinical trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHCI International 2024 Posters - 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024, Proceedings
EditorsConstantine Stephanidis, Margherita Antona, Stavroula Ntoa, Gavriel Salvendy
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages224-234
Number of pages11
ISBN (Print)9783031619311
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
EventHCI International 2024 Posters - 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024 - Washington, United States
Duration: Jun 29 2024Jul 4 2024

Publication series

NameCommunications in Computer and Information Science
Volume2114 CCIS
ISSN (Print)1865-0929
ISSN (Electronic)1865-0937

Conference

ConferenceHCI International 2024 Posters - 26th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington
Period6/29/247/4/24

Keywords

  • Computer-Aided Voice Therapy
  • Serious Games
  • Transgender Health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Computer Science
  • General Mathematics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Design and Usability Evaluation of a Web-Based Pitch Control Training App for Transgender Women'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this