Spatial Audio Applied to Research with the Blind

Abstract

Spatial audio technology has long been used for studies relating to human perception, primarily in the area of auditory source localisation. The ability to render individual sounds at desired positions or complex spatial audio scenes, without the need to manipulate any physical equipment, has offered researchers many advantages. Recently, the use of spatial audio has expanded beyond the study of such low level processes as localisation, and has been used as a tool to investigate higher-level cognitive functions. This work presents several recent studies where spatial audio technology has been used in order to expand our understanding of spatial cognition, with a specific focus on the abilities of the visually impaired, in both free-field and interior space exploration. These types of works provide for both an improved understanding within cognitive science and for the research and development into improved high resolution renderings with appropriate auditory cues.