From: stevef@csl.sony.co.jp
Subject: Re: Beyond bleeps and bloops: sound in the user interface
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1992 03:28:14 GMT
Organization: Sony Computer Science Laboratory Inc., Tokyo, Japan



So far I have seen people talk about "point source" sounds, speech and
music.


** Begin Vague Idea **

I have been thinking for some time about the use of "3D sound", not
just 3D placement of a point source but the sonic equivalent of a
cylinder.

This could be used (amoung many things) to create a sonic arrow or
vector. Although it is likely that humans cannot accurately judge the
length of the cylinder I think they would easily be able to accurately
tell the direction it is pointing. 

If used for a "virtual reality" application the cylinder could be used
to point to the direction of an object. Other attributes of the
cylinder could be used for distance and speed of the objet.

Say, distance would be mapped to tone. The speed of the object could
be "shown" by having a sonic disturbances travel the length of the
cylinder. (Like the spark that travels between two metal poles in old
science fiction movie's depiction of a scientist lab :) ) The faster
and higher frequency of disturbances indicate faster movement.

So... this would require using the 3D sound Digital Signal Processing
technology already available. It would seem the hardest part is
actually creating the illusion of a 3D sonic object.

Has anybody worked on this or know of any work???

Most computer users would not mind wearing small headphones, esp. if
you let them play music thru them too, and the cost is quite low.

** End Rambling thoughts **


-------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Franks			Mail:	Sony Computer Science Lab
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