Perception of mismatched auditory distance - Cinematic VR

Abstract

All rights reserved. This study examines auditory distance discrimination in cinematic virtual reality. It uses controlled stimuli with audio-visual distance variations, to determine if mismatch stimuli are detected. It asks if visual conditions - either equally or unequally distanced from the user, and environmental conditions - either a reverberant space as opposed to a freer field, impact accuracy in discrimination between congruent and incongruent aural and visual cues. A Repertory Grid Technique-derived design is used, whereby participant-specific constructs are translated into numerical ratings. Discrimination of auditory event mismatch was improved for stimuli with varied visual-event distances, though not for equidistant visual events. This may demonstrate that visual cues alert users to matches and mismatches.