Drunken Speech
(SFX: slurred drunken speech "but officer I wasn't speeding. . ." ) 

     WHEN SOMEONE IS REALLY DRUNK, YOU CAN OFTEN TELL JUST FROM LISTENING TO
THEM TALK.  KATHLEEN CUMMINGS IS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AT GEORGIA TECH AND
SHE THINKS SPEECH MAY BE A GOOD WAY TO TEST FOR SOBRIETY. 

     Cummings: "this is non invasive and can be done . . . easily, quickly and cheaply."

     THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOMEONE CAN BE LEGALLY DRUNK LONG BEFORE YOU'D
HEAR THEM REALLY SLURRING.  

     Cummings: "This is pretty far below what you could detect with your ears."

     SO WHAT CUMMINGS DOES IS ANALAYZE THE SOUND WAVE ON A COMPUTER. SHE
HAS A DATABASE OF PEOPLE SAYING VARIOUS PHRASES AND TONGUE TWISTERS. . .

     Cummings: "One I happen to have is 'this engine has to be fixed.'"

     AND SHE'S BEGINNING TO FIND MINUTE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DRUNKEN AND
SOBER SPEECH.  IN YOUR EVERY DAY CONVERSATION, THE 'X' IN FIXED ISN'T TOO
DIFFICULT, BUT IT REQUIRES PERFECTLY TIMED MOVEMENTS OF YOUR MOUTH. 

     Cummings: "the consonants I found to be different are the ones where it stops
and it's very itricate motion to close your vocal tract until exactly the right time then let it
go suddenly."

     SHE'S ALSO FOUND--AT A LEVEL THAT CAN'T BE HEARD BY EAR--THAT CERTAIN
PARAMETERS OF YOUR SPEECH AREN'T PRODUCED STEADILY.  SHE'S CONTINUING TO
EXAMINE OTHER TONGUE TWISTERS IN THE DATABASE TO PIN DOWN OTHER SMOKING
GUNS FOR DRUNKEN SPEECH.  IF SHE CAN PINPOINT SEVERAL, A POLICE OFFICER COULD
CARRY A MINI MICROPHONE TO RECORD AND ANALYZE SPEECH, OR A SPEECH SENSOR
COULD EVEN BE BUILT INTO A CAR'S STEERING SHAFT.