Super Auditory Localization for Improved Human-Machine Interfaces

Abstract : Work during the period 3/1/91 - 2/29/92 has continued on the development of a hybrid stimulation system in which a virtual auditory environment is combined with a real visual environment. This system has been developed to help explore the effects of various transformations of auditory- localization cues on both resolution and response bias. Initial research has focussed on the effects of altering the cues available to the listener for determining sound source direction in the horizontal plane. Of particular interest are alterations that magnify these cues and thus lead to supernormal performance. Although these experiments have not yet been completed, results to date indicate that current models of auditory behavior are adequate for predicting the observed changes in resolution but inadequate for predicting the observed change in response bias.