auditory user interface for avalanche safety products (Kathryn H Arehart )

Subject: auditory user interface for avalanche safety products From: Kathryn H Arehart <Kathryn.Arehart@xxxxxxxx> Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2015 14:46:22 -0700 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY> --_000_F51B7A1CDF0D44449DCFB09246BD37DA4B1801AF47EXC2adcolorad_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable A local company in Boulder, Colorado, USA, is interested in finding someon= e with a particular expertise in sound to help with the following. Please = contact the company directly. SUMMARY Backcountry Access (BCA) is a leading manufacturer of avalanche safety prod= ucts, including the Tracker3 avalanche rescue transceiver. We are looking f= or a sound user interface consultant to help us develop a new "sound packag= e" for the Tracker3, on a contract basis. This sound package would be offer= ed to consumers and professionals as part of our software upgrade in the su= mmer of 2015. DESIGN BRIEF Device and user demographics The Tracker3 ( http://www.backcountryaccess.com/product/tracker-3/ ) is an = avalanche transceiver (or "beacon"), which is a lifesaving device for profe= ssionals and recreational users. Male and female age range 15-65. Professio= nals range from military to ski patrol and search-and-rescue personnel, inc= luding mountain guides. Recreational users have strong outdoor focus in act= ion sports such as backcountry skiing, climbing and mountain biking. Application of sounds Current sounds have poor consumer reception in demographics, hence existing= device needs to have an updatable set of sounds. There will be three sound= packages, of which one will be the current sound package in our existing T= racker2 transceiver. This will be for consumers who formerly owned this old= er product and are used to its interface. The third sound package is the on= e for which we are seeking assistance. Consumer feedback on current sound package Too playful, video game-like, does not reflect the serious nature of avalan= che rescue. Audio: One of the more noticeable aspects of the Tracker3 is its audio-a "S= pace Invaders" sound generator that users either adore or despise. Differen= t "1980's - style" sounds are emitted when you power up or down, change bet= ween search and transmit modes, and during the fine search (the final phase= of the search process). More information on the phases of a transceiver se= arch can be found here: http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/rescue_searching.asp#fine_search>./ The nature of this sound package also does not reflect the Tracker's positi= on in the market as having robust, real-time feedback. The new sounds need = to be perceived as fast, clean, and immediate. Required Sounds Sound when beacon is turned on; Sound when switching to search; Sound when mode button is pushed down; Sound when mode button is released; First half of transmit sound; Second half of transmit sound; Sound when unit turns off. User interface UI steps can not be changed for this project. For an overview of our user i= nterface, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D7amLvIxPseI For the Tracker3 existing sound files, please contact Toni Leskela at Toni.= Leskela@xxxxxxxx<mailto:Toni.Leskela@xxxxxxxx> Format of sounds All digital formats are acceptable: Mp3, avi, Wav etc... Compensation Compensation can be done via billing, as contractor or with product dependi= ng on contractor's preferences. Contact person Toni Leskela Toni.Leskela@xxxxxxxx<mailto:Toni.Leskela@xxxxxxxx= m> Phone# (303)523-4350 2820 Wilderness place, Unit H Boulder, CO 80301 --_000_F51B7A1CDF0D44449DCFB09246BD37DA4B1801AF47EXC2adcolorad_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html xmlns:v=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-micr= osoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:m=3D"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns=3D"http:= //www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT= =3D"text/html; charset=3Dus-ascii"><meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Micros= oft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=3DEN-US link=3D"#0563C1= " vlink=3D"#954F72"><div class=3DWordSection1>A local company in Boulder, Colorado, = USA,  is interested in finding someone with a particular expertise in = sound to help with the following.  Please contact the company directly= . <o:p></o:p><o:p> </= o:p>SUMMARY<o:p></o:p>Backcountry Access (BCA) is a leading= manufacturer of avalanche safety products, including the Tracker= 3 avalanche rescue transceiver. We are looking for a sound u= ser interface consultant to help us develop a new "sound package"= for the Tracker3, on a contract basis. This sound package would be offered= to consumers and professionals as part of our software upgrade in the summ= er of 2015.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o= :p>DESIGN BRIEF<o:p></o:p> <o:p>= </o:p>Device and user demographics<o:p></o:p><= /p>The Tracker3 ( <a href=3D"http://www.bac= kcountryaccess.com/product/tracker-3">http://www= .backcountryaccess.com/product/tracker-3</a>/ ) is an avalanche= transceiver (or "beacon"), which is a lifesaving device for prof= essionals and recreational users. Male and female age range 15-65. Professi= onals range from military to ski patrol and search-and-rescue personnel, in= cluding mountain guides. Recreational users have strong outdoor focus in ac= tion sports such as backcountry skiing, climbing and mountain biking.<o:p><= /o:p> <o:p></o:p><sp= an style=3D'font-size:10.5pt;color:black'>Application of sounds<= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:bl= ack'><o:p></o:p>Current sounds have poor consumer reception in demographics, hence ex= isting device needs to have an updatable set of sounds. There will be three= sound packages, of which one will be the current sound package in our exis= ting Tracker2 transceiver. This will be for consumers who formerly owned th= is older product and are used to its interface. The third sound packag= e is the one for which we are seeking assistance.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Consumer feedback on current sound packag= e<o:p></o:p>Too playful, video game-like, does not reflect the serio= us nature of avalanche rescue.<o:p></o:p>Audio: One of the more noticeable= aspects of the Tracker3 is its audio—a "Space Invaders" so= und generator that users either adore or despise. Different "1980's&nb= sp;– style" sounds are emitted when you power up or down, c= hange between search and transmit modes, and during the fine search (the fi= nal phase of the search process). More information on the phases of a trans= ceiver search can be found here:<o:p></o:p> <a href=3D"http://beaconreviews.co= m/transceivers/rescue_searching.asp#fine_search>./">http://beaconrev= iews.com/transceivers/rescue_searching.asp#fine_search>./</a><o:p= ></o:p>The nature of this sound package also does= not reflect the Tracker's position in the market as having robus= t, real-time feedback. The new sounds need to be perceived as fast, clean, = and immediate.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Required Soun= ds<o:p></o:p>Sound when beacon is turned on;<sp= an style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blac= k'><o:p></o:p>Sound when switching to search;<o:p></o:p></sp= an>So= und when mode button is pushed down;<o:p></o:p>Sound when mo= de button is released;<o:p></o:p>First half of transmit soun= d;<o:p></o:p>Second half of transmit sound;<o:p= ></o:p>Sound when unit turns off.<o:p></o:p> <= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:bl= ack'><o:p></o:p>User interface<o:p></o:p><= p class=3DMsoNormal>UI steps c= an not be changed for this project. For an overview of our user interface, = see <a href=3D"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D7amLvIxPseI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D7amLvIxPseI</= a><o:p></o:p>For the Tracker3 existing sound files, please c= ontact Toni Leskela at <a href=3D"mailto:Toni.Leskela@xxxxxxxx= ">Toni.Leskela@xxxxxxxx</a><= /span><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Format of soun= ds<o:p></o:p>All digital formats are acceptable: Mp3, = avi, Wav etc…<o:p></o:p>=  <o:p></o:p>= Compensation<o:p></o:p>Compensation can be done via= billing, as contractor or with product depending on contractor's preferenc= es.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Contact per= son<o:p></o:p>Toni Leskela<o:p></o:p></spa= n><a = href=3D"mailto:Toni.Leskela@xxxxxxxx">Toni.Leskela@xxxxxxxx</a><o:p></o:p><= /span>Phone# (303)523-4350<o:p></o:p>2820 Wilderness place, Unit = H<o:p></o:p>Boulder, CO 80301<o:p></o:p>= <o:p> </o:p></div></body></html>= --_000_F51B7A1CDF0D44449DCFB09246BD37DA4B1801AF47EXC2adcolorad_--

This message came from the mail archive
http://www.auditory.org/postings/2015/
maintained by:

DAn Ellis <dpwe@ee.columbia.edu>
Electrical Engineering Dept., Columbia University