The objective evaluation of the audio performance of nonlinear process
es such as data reduction has required the development of a new genera
tion of perception-based assessment algorithms. In the future it is ex
pected that a large proportion of communications traffic will be wideb
and and multimedia. Objective assessment of perceived performance is r
equired for optimisation during design, and for commissioning. In deve
loping objective techniques to assess multimedia systems it is necessa
ry to investigate, and model, the dependencies which exist between aud
io and visual perception (other senses may follow). This paper summari
ses the background of current perceptual modelling work and reports ea
rly progress towards a multisensory perceptual model. An experimental
investigation into combined audio/video perception is described and an
algorithmic basis for a multisensory perceptual model proposed In the
Suture ir is predicted that algorithmic models of perception will be
exploited for objective assessment of multimedia systems and by the de
livery technology for advanced telepresence applications.