Signal processing can be applied to acoustic signals in order to simulate sounds in a virtual environment. This will help the listener locating sound sources in a 3-dimensional space and gives the impression of being in a real sound environment.

SINTEF focuses mainly on the use of such techniques in communication systems and user interfaces. For example, with many simultaneous users in a communication system, 3D sound techniques are applied in order to artificially separate the incoming signals such that each voice apparently comes from a different direction. This improves the intelligibility greatly.

If the locations of all the users are known, similar techniques can be applied in order to give acoustic cues regarding these positions, despite that no visible contact may be possible.

Contact:
Trym Holter
Tel.: +47 73 59 31 44