Abstract:

Previous experiments by the authors have investigated the effects of spatially correlated auditory cues on visual search times. In a recent study [D'Angelo et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 101, 3107 (1997)], it was shown that the addition of a spatially correlated auditory cue, presented over headphones, effects a significant reduction in response times for a search for a single visual target among a varying number of similar distractors. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of individualized head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) on response times in an aurally aided visual search task. Subjects will search for a visual target among 1, 5, 10, 25, or 50 distractors with the aid of a spatially correlated auditory cue, using either their own or generic (90th percentile KEMAR) HRTFs. Results will be presented and the implications for the design of virtual auditory systems discussed. [Work supported by AFOSR.]