Direct comparison of the impact of head tracking, reverberation, and individualized head-related transfer functions on the spatial perception of a virtual speech source.
A study of sound localization performance was conducted using headphone-delivered virtual speech stimuli, rendered via HRTF-based acoustic auralization software and hardware, and blocked-meatus HRTF measurements. The independent variables were chosen to evaluate commonly held assumptions in the literature regarding improved localization: inclusion of head tracking, individualized HRTFs, and early and diffuse reflections. Significant effects were found for azimuth and elevation error, reversal rates, and externalization.
Begault
D R
DR
Human Factors Research and Technology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
Wenzel
E M
EM
Anderson
M R
MR
D000162:Acoustics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003463:Cues; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012984:Software; D013016:Sound; D013017:Sound Localization; D013060:Speech; D014584:User-Computer Interface