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Architectural Science Review

Architectural Science Review 52 (2009) 142–150

Non-Expensive Automated Virtual Environment: Investigating Correlations of Audio Directional Perception and Field-of-View

David Bartolo and Xiangyu Wang

The use of Cave Automated Virtual Environments (CAVEs) in design has been well documented over many years. CAVEs often involve expensive, state-of-the-art hardware and software precluding their widespread use. This paper presents the prototyping of a portable, easy-to-use, Non-expensive Automated Virtual Environment (NAVE) test bed that allows experiments to be conducted within Virtual Environments (VEs). Using commercially available authoring software, a testing prototype was created that allows users to dynamically change a number of factors. Hardware has been adapted that allows these factors to be tested, using a Wii controller, data projectors/monitors or head-mounted displays (HMDs), wireless headphones, buttons, and foot pads. A NAVE system has been created that can be rapidly deployed, and allows users to either fly, walk-in-place or walk around a limited area, with varying levels of immersion. Based on the system, this paper also investigates a user’s ability to perceive audio sources in a 3D environment with varying Fields-of-View (FOV). The experimental design of the study and the results are also discussed.

Keywords: Audio perception; CAVE; Field-of-view; NAVE; Virtual environments

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