title: Vibratory-coded directional analysis: evaluation of a three-microphone/four-vibrator DSP system.
abstract: A sound localization aid based on eyeglasses with three microphones and four vibrators was tested in a sound-treated acoustic test room and in an ordinary office. A digital signal-processing algorithm provided a determination of the source angle, which was transformed into eight vibrator codes each corresponding to a 45 degrees sector. The instrument was tested on nine deaf and three deaf-blind individuals. The results show an average hit rate of about 80% in a sound-treated room with 100% for the front 135 degrees sector. The results in a realistic communication situation in an ordinary office room were 70% correct based on single presentations and 95% correct when more realistic criteria for an adequate reaction were used. Ten of the twelve subjects were interested in participating in field tests using a planned miniaturized version.
authors.affiliation: Ahlsán Research Institute, Orebro Medical Centre Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rönnberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Neovius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012682:Sensory Aids; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013017:Sound Localization; D014732:Vibration