Further challenges and the road ahead

Abstract

Models of binaural hearing are well established versatile tools for many technological applications. Traditionally, most of these models are restricted to the processing of the acoustical input signals to the two ears. Yet, signal processing alone cannot model cognitive processes like the identification of salient perceptual cues, focused attention, the formation of aural objects, the composition of aural scenes and their interpretation, as well as the assignment of meaning to them and, eventually, the performance of quality judgements. Further, for many technological purposes, human listeners have to be conceived as active agents that explore their environment actively in a multi-modal fashion, thereby also considering information from senses other than hearing. To include these functions, binaural models will have to become more intelligent and, consequently, contain increasing inherent knowledge, coupled with means to further develop this knowledge in situation- and task-specific ways. In this chapter, a general vision is presented of how such future systems may be constructed, and some tools are introduced that may be useful in this context.