Sound localization in web-based 3D environments. 2022

Chinmay Rajguru, and Giada Brianza, and Gianluca Memoli
School of Engineering and Informatics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK. c.rajguru@sussex.ac.uk.

Sound delivery is a key aspect of immersivity in virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), with studies hinting at a correlation between users' ability to locate sounds around them and the 'feeling of being there'. This is particularly true for WebVR, a method of delivering immersive experiences through a local web browser that has recently captured attention in multiple industries. In WebVR, audio is the main spatial cue. Designers need to select the correct number of sound sources so that users perceive the location of incoming sound correctly. Information on how users localize sound is essential. Sound localization experiments, so far, have been run only in empty spaces or closed rooms, without clear indications for designers in WebVR. Thus, in this study, we investigate sound localization directly through WebVR. To do so, we designed a traditional empty room for training and a city-like virtual environment for testing purposes. In our paper, we also discuss key design parameters, differences in perception for vertical and horizontal directions, the impact of training, and the role of changing virtual environments. In addition, we introduce and test a new sound cue along with the traditional pink noise sound to measure and explore the impact of different sound cues in different environments. The results demonstrate the potential of exploring sound localization using WebVR, and our study will support the development of virtual experiences in human-computer interaction that may be able to reach a large number of participants using a local web browser.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009622 Noise Any sound which is unwanted or interferes with HEARING other sounds. Noise Pollution,Noises,Pollution, Noise
D003463 Cues Signals for an action; that specific portion of a perceptual field or pattern of stimuli to which a subject has learned to respond. Cue
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013016 Sound A type of non-ionizing radiation in which energy is transmitted through solid, liquid, or gas as compression waves. Sound (acoustic or sonic) radiation with frequencies above the audible range is classified as ultrasonic. Sound radiation below the audible range is classified as infrasonic. Acoustic Waves,Elastic Waves,Sonic Radiation,Sound Waves,Acoustic Wave,Elastic Wave,Radiation, Sonic,Radiations, Sonic,Sonic Radiations,Sound Wave,Sounds,Wave, Acoustic,Wave, Elastic,Wave, Sound,Waves, Acoustic,Waves, Elastic,Waves, Sound
D013017 Sound Localization Ability to determine the specific location of a sound source. Auditory Localization,Auditory Localizations,Localization, Auditory,Localization, Sound,Localizations, Auditory,Localizations, Sound,Sound Localizations
D020407 Internet A loose confederation of computer communication networks around the world. The networks that make up the Internet are connected through several backbone networks. The Internet grew out of the US Government ARPAnet project and was designed to facilitate information exchange. World Wide Web,Cyber Space,Cyberspace,Web, World Wide,Wide Web, World

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