Auditory Icon

Context:

You are designing an auditory display which includes the represenataion of dimensional data as well as conceptual objects in a computer system.

Problem:

You need to provide dimensional data as well as conceptual objects to the user in a coherent and effective way.

Forces:

• A large number of new sounds can be hard to learn.
• Related dimensional data values need to be perceived as coming from the same information source.

Solution:

Use caricatures of naturally occurring sounds (Auditory Icons). Synthesise these sounds in such a way that manipulating the algorithmic parameters can result in the perception of specific dimensional data.

Rationale:

Gaver’s Auditory Icons are based on the way people listen to the world in their everyday lives. It is claimed that this means the user will perceive more the actual event or information the sound results from, rather than the sound itself [10].

Through the parameterisation of Auditory Icons, auditory displays can categorise data into distinct families. Each family of data can therefore be recognised through the use a single sound, reducing the need to include complex sound language.

For Example:

• Skantze, D. and Dahlbäck, N. “Auditory Icon Support For Navigation In Speech-Only Interfaces For Room-Based Design Metaphors”, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory Display ICAD 2003, Boston, July 6-9, 2003.
  • [Paper: http://www.icad.org/websiteV2.0/Conferences/ICAD2003/paper/34%20Skantze.pdf]
  • [Examples: http://www.speech.kth.se/~daniels/sound_examples.html]

• Mäkelä, K., Hakulinen, J. and Turunen, M. “The Use Of Walking Sounds In Supporting Awareness”, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory Display ICAD 2003, Boston, July 6-9, 2003.
  • [Paper: http://www.icad.org/websiteV2.0/Conferences/ICAD2003/paper/35%20Makela.pdf]

• Hermann, T., Drees, J. and Ritter, H. “Broadcasting Auditory Weather Reports - A Pilot Project”, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory Display ICAD 2003, Boston, July 6-9, 2003.
  • [Paper: http://www.icad.org/websiteV2.0/Conferences/ICAD2003/paper/51%20Hermann1-%20weather.pdf]
  • [Examples: http://www.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de/ags/ni/projects/datamining/datason/demo/ICAD2003/weatherSonification.html]

• Targett, S. and Fernström, M. “Audio games: fun for all? All for fun?”, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory Display ICAD 2003, Boston, July 6-9, 2003.
  • [Paper: http://www.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de/ags/ni/projects/datamining/datason/demo/ICAD2003/weatherSonification.html]

• Schmandt, C. and Vallejo, G. ““Listenin” To Domestic Environments From Remote Locations”, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory Display ICAD 2003, Boston, July 6-9, 2003.
  • [Paper: http://www.icad.org/websiteV2.0/Conferences/ICAD2003/paper/54%20Schmandt.pdf]