AURALLY AIDED VISUAL-SEARCH UNDER VIRTUAL AND FREE-FIELD LISTENING CONDITIONS

We examined the minimum latency required to locate and identify a visu al target (visual search) in a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm in which the visual target could appear from any azimuth (0 degrees to 360 degrees) and from a broad range of elevations (from 90 degrees ab ove to 70 degrees below the horizon) relative to a person's initial li ne of gaze. Seven people were tested in six conditions: unaided search , three aurally aided search conditions, and two visually aided search conditions. Aurally aided search with both actual and virtual sound l ocalization cues proved to be superior to unaided and visually guided search. Application of synthesized three-dimensional and two-dimension al sound cues in the workstations are discussed.