Defining and redefining limits on human performance in auditory spatial displays

Abstract

Design of an effective auditory display depends upon understanding the requirements of the task as well as understanding limitations imposed by available display technology. However, an effective display also must consider limitations that are imposed by the human. The current chapter examines the use of spatial cues in an auditory display. First, normal perceptual limitations on spatial perception are discussed, with emphasis on some nonobvious ways in which perceptual limitations can affect the amount of information received by a human operator. An approach to overcoming such perceptual limitations is then introduced and its effectiveness examined. Although the focus of the chapter is on limitations in the perception of spatial auditory cues, the approach outlined here can be utilized in other display dimensions.