Investigating Ambient Auditory Information Systems

Abstract

This paper discusses an exploration using a concurrent auditory displays for awareness and lightweight interactions. The design of this type of system and comparisons to existing awareness tools are discussed. The auditory display system in this exploration was designed to explore, using concurrent auditory icons, the issue of group awareness. The sounds used in this auditory display where selected based on their identification derived from individual's personal constructs using the Repertory Grid Technique. The system was designed to create a `soundscape' of concurrent ecological sounds mapped to the individual's availability and to the group activities, respectively. In this paper we present an auditory display using auditory icons to create an interactive soundscape that support opportunistic interactions and awareness. Presence and activity are conveyed by changes in the soundscape. Our goal in this work is to explore the potential of this type of system for supporting awareness and lightweight interactions.