Ray Meddis: a model scientist

Tools

Sumner, C.J. ORCID: 0000-0002-2573-7418, 2019. Ray Meddis: a model scientist. In: M. Ochmann, M. Vorländer and J. Fels, eds., Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress on Acoustics: Integrating 4th EAA Euroregio 2019, Aachen, Germany, 9-13 September 2019. Berlin: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Akustik, pp. 655-662. ISBN 9783939296157

Preview

Text
1287467_Sumner.pdf - Post-print
Download (559kB) | Preview

Official URL: https://doi.org/10.18154/RWTH-CONV-239848

Abstract

Ray was a scientist in the classical sense: a creative intellect who sought the truth. He was also someone who had a profound impact on the career of many hearing scientists. Ray believed that to understand hearing it was necessary to replicate its behavior in a computer model. His first major contribution in hearing was the "Meddis Haircell", and a series of papers exploring the adaptation of firing rate in auditory nerve fibers. These were accompanied by models of stream segregation, of pitch, of the segregation of concurrent vowels, numerous models of the processing of sound by neurons in the auditory brainstem, and a non-linear model of the basilar membrane. In later years, Ray became increasingly interested in hearing loss, and the role of the olivocochlear system. Technology also deserves a special mention: Ray's models were implemented in silicon, evaluated using automatic speech recognition, and even inspired a smart-phone based hearing aid. Ray lives on in his work, but also his colleagues: those of us that learnt from him, worked with him, disagreed with (yes!), were influenced by his work, and shared his passion for models of the auditory system.

Item Type:

Chapter in book

Creators:

Sumner, C.J.

Publisher:

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Akustik

Place of Publication:

Berlin

Date:

2019

ISBN:

9783939296157