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In acoustics, an artificial head generally comprises two pinnae and occasionally a torso, which are useful for recording binaural signals and acquiring head-related transfer functions (HRTFs). Currently, most artificial heads are designed based on the anthropometric parameters of specific populations. However, anthropometric parameters do not accurately express head surface shapes, and thus, typical HRTFs are difficult to generate. Thus, this study presents a statistical shape model-based average head of 100 Chinese adults and comprehensively presents its repeatable design process. Furthermore, to validate the representativeness of the statistical shape model-based average head in terms of the head surface shape features and acoustical characteristics, its anthropometric parameters are compared with those of the 100 subjects. Moreover, the representativeness of statistical shape model-based average head's HRTFs is verified through the typical HRTFs clustered from the entire HRTF database. Owing to the clear and concise design process, the proposed method can be easily applied and promoted to a new population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binaural audio recordings become increasingly popular in multimedia repositories, posing new challenges in indexing, searching, and retrieval of such excerpts in terms of their spatial audio scene characteristics. This paper presents a new method for the automatic estimation of one of the most important spatial attributes of binaural recordings of music, namely "ensemble width." The method has been developed using a repository of 23,040 binaural excerpts synthesized by convolving 192 multi-track music recordings with 30 sets of head-related transfer functions (HRTF). The synthesized excerpts represented various spatial distributions of music sound sources along a frontal semicircle in the horizontal plane. A binaural auditory model was exploited to derive the standard binaural cues from the synthesized excerpts, yielding a dataset representing interaural level and time differences, complemented by interaural cross-correlation coefficients. Subsequently, a regression method, based on gradient-boosted decision trees, was applied to the formerly calculated dataset to estimate ensemble width values. According to the obtained results, the mean absolute error of the ensemble width estimation averaged across experimental conditions amounts to 6.63° (SD 0.12°). The accuracy of the method is the highest for the recordings with ensembles narrower than 30°, yielding the mean absolute error ranging between 0.8° and 10.2°. The performance of the proposed algorithm is relatively uniform regardless of the horizontal position of an ensemble. However, its accuracy deteriorates for wider ensembles, with the error reaching 25.2° for the music ensembles spanning 90°. The developed method exhibits satisfactory generalization properties when evaluated both under music-independent and HRTF-independent conditions. The proposed method outperforms the technique based on "spatiograms" recently introduced in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this systematic literature review (SLR) is to understand what research has been conducted on the use of binaural sound (i.e. a type of 3D sound) in audio and radio journalism in the last decade (January 2013 to December 2023). For this purpose, the PRISMA method was used and data were collected from WoS and Scopus. A corpus of six journal articles was obtained and the results demonstrate a need for greater literacy among journalists about binaural technology and its uses. In the cases in which it is applied, the most common editorial sections are those on society, culture, education and travel/tourism and the goal is to put the listener in the centre of the story and make them more immersed in the narrative. However, this SLR also shows that there is little research in this field and it is essential to create a specific grammar when binaural sound is applied to radio and audio journalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Special Issue explores the transformation of radio and sound ecosystems in the platform age, presenting seven contributions from the 7th ECREA Radio and Sound Conference 2023. The articles examine various aspects of this evolving landscape, including the integration of video in podcasting, the expressive potential of narrative nonfiction podcasts, the use of binaural sound in journalism, the dynamic podcasting industry in Brazil, strategies for engaging young audiences in public radio, the impact of virtual reality and AI on podcasting and the use of ethnographic methods in audio documentaries. These studies collectively offer insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by traditional and emerging players in the digital audio field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SoundOrbit is a novel input technique that uses motion correlation to control smart devices. The technique associates controls with specific orbital sounds, made of cyclically increasing/decreasing musical scales, and the user can activate a control by mimicking the corresponding sound by body motion. Unlike previous movement-correlation techniques based on visual displays, SoundOrbit operates independent of visual perception, enabling the development of cost-effective smart devices that do not require visual displays. We investigated SoundOrbit by conducting two user studies. The first study evaluated the effectiveness of binaural sound spatialization to create a distinct orbiting sound. In comparison to a cyclic musical scale that is fixed in the apparent auditory space, we found that spatial effects did not improve users' ability to follow the sound orbit. In the second study, we aimed at determining the optimal system parameters, and discovered that users synchronize better with slower speeds. The technique was found to be feasible and reliable for one and two orbits simultaneously, each orbit using a distinct sound timbre, but not for three orbits due to a high error rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the perceived affective qualities (PAQs) in soundscape assessments have increased in recent years, with methods varying from in-situ to laboratory. Through technological advances, virtual reality (VR) has facilitated evaluations of multiple locations in the same experiment. In this paper, VR reproductions of different urban sites were presented in an online and laboratory environment testing three locations in Greater Manchester ('Park', 'Plaza', and pedestrian 'Street') in two population densities (empty and busy) using ISO/TS 12913–2 (2018) soundscape PAQs. The studied areas had audio and video recordings prepared for 360 video and binaural audio VR reproductions. The aims were to observe population density effects within locations (Wilcoxon test) and variations between locations (Mann-Whitney U test) within methods. Population density and comparisons among locations demonstrated a significant effect on most PAQs. Results also suggested that big cities can present homogenous sounds, composing a 'blended' urban soundscape, independently of functionality. These findings can support urban design in a low-cost approach, where urban planners can test different scenarios and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many people are listening to fiction stories in podcasts and audiobooks. Some techniques, such as 3D or binaural sound, might improve the listeners' sensory experience in this kind of format. However, few audio productions are produced with binaural sound, and research about their effects on cognitive processing is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the impact of binaural sound in audio stories compared to their stereo versions on the listeners' cognitive processing and physiological responses. Fifty participants listened to two stories produced in two versions: binaural and stereo, and they assessed enjoyment, engagement, and imagery while their physiological responses were measured (heart rate and electrodermal activity). Also, they performed a recognition test. The results showed that the binaural version achieved higher narrative engagement, enjoyment, imagery, and information recognition than the stereo stories. The psychophysiological responses indicated the highest attention and arousal in binaural stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing significance of accessibility, particularly in the realm of disability rights, is unmistakable. "Unseen" emerges as a prototype leveraging binaural audio technology to craft an immersive 3D gaming experience, placing a paramount focus on promoting accessibility and digital inclusion. Its primary objective is to deliver a immersive audiogaming encounter, catering to both sighted gamers and individuals with visual impairments. Through a comprehensive evaluation of the prototype, the efficacy of its audiogame interactions and mechanisms was assessed. Valuable insights gleaned from laboratory tests not only pinpointed areas for game enhancement but also shed light on elements that fostered user satisfaction and motivation. These research results notably exemplify promoting digital accessibility in gaming, particularly through the utilization of binaural audio, and the active engagement of individuals with visual impairments in the virtual environment.

When individuals are exposed to two pure tones with close frequencies presented separately in each ear, they perceive a third sound known as binaural beats (BB), characterized by a frequency equal to the difference between the two tones. Previous research has suggested that BB may influence brain activity, potentially benefiting attention and relaxation. In this study, we hypothesized that the impact of BB on cognition and EEG is linked to the spatial characteristics of the sound. Participants listened to various types of spatially moving sounds (BB, panning and alternate beeps) at 6Hz and 40Hz frequencies. EEG measurements were conducted throughout the auditory stimulation, and participants completed questionnaires on relaxation, affect, and a sustained attention task. The results indicated that binaural, panning sounds and alternate beeps had a more pronounced effect on electrical brain activity than the control condition. Additionally, an improvement in relaxation was observed with these sounds at both 6Hz and 40Hz. Overall, these findings support our hypothesis that the impact of auditory stimulation lies in the spatial attributes rather than the sensation of beating itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMethodResultsDiscussionTo explore the efficacy and safety of binaural beats (BB) for stress management in non-clinical contexts.Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched for RCTs that administered BB and reported ≥1 stress-related outcome in subjects with pre-existing stress, or in participants with laboratory-induced stress (PROSPERO registration: CRD42023428623). The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tool and a purpose-designed tool to explore stress-specific methodological quality. Effects between groups were synthesised thematically, exploring physiological and psychological outcomes, duration of exposure and frequency (Hz).Twelve studies were included for review. Half of the studies used a single-session BB intervention and half used longer-term home-based protocols. Seven involved participants with pre-existing stress and five exposed healthy subjects to stressors. Eight studies reported ≥1 significant effect favouring intervention over control while four found no group effects. However, methodological heterogeneity, unclear randomisation and blinding procedures, and lack of oversight of stress mediators and moderators were found.BBs have promise as a self-care stress-management tool. However, evidence is not strongly in favour of widespread recommendation, there is little known about adverse effects, and there is not yet a clear optimal protocol (frequency and schedule) for stress-buffering effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital single-sided deafness (SSD) leads to an aural preference syndrome that is characterized by overrepresentation of the hearing ear in the auditory system. Cochlear implantation (CI) of the deaf ear is an effective treatment for SSD. However, the newly introduced auditory input in congenital SSD often does not reach expectations in late-implanted CI recipients with respect to binaural hearing and speech perception. In a previous study, a reduction of the interaural time difference (ITD) sensitivity has been shown in unilaterally congenitally deaf cats (uCDCs). In the present study, we focused on the interaural level difference (ILD) processing in the primary auditory cortex. The uCDC group was compared with hearing cats (HCs) and bilaterally congenitally deaf cats (CDCs). The ILD representation was reorganized, replacing the preference for the contralateral ear with a preference for the hearing ear, regardless of the cortical hemisphere. In accordance with the previous study, uCDCs were less sensitive to interaural time differences than HCs, resulting in unmodulated ITD responses, thus lacking directional information. Such incongruent ITDs and ILDs cannot be integrated for binaural sound source localization. In normal hearing, the predominant effect of each ear is excitation of the auditory cortex in the contralateral cortical hemisphere and inhibition in the ipsilateral hemisphere. In SSD, however, auditory pathways reorganized such that the hearing ear produced greater excitation in both cortical hemispheres and the deaf ear produced weaker excitation and preserved inhibition in both cortical hemispheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restrictions of the pandemic forced the idea of an information system that integrated remote public participation in a live television show. The existing mechanisms were then too rigid, of poor audiovisual quality, and had an excessive and unsustainable delay between emission and reception for real-time television interaction. The creation of the Virtual Audience System (VAS) proposed the use of the most recent technology in areas such as cloud and edge computing, lowlatency audio and video transmission, interactive communication in the web environment, and the creation of immersive binaural sound to overcome the limitations of the moment. With these new technological elements, a new system of transmission and reception of audiovisual information was developed that allows the adaptation and scalability of media production to the type of event broadcasted and its audience with a minimum investment and, at the same time, generates a new concept of audience appropriate for the 21st century. The Virtual Audience System enables interactive and synchronized participation in live entertainment shows and, at the same time, allows the creation of remote virtual participants while guaranteeing a real and immersive experience for the user. The WebRTC, RTMP and SRT technology used, which is already popular and has universal compatibility; the low latency achieved, which is below two seconds for the complete cycle; and the immersive sensation of the audience--everything together predicts that this system can soon transform the television production methodology of shows with live audience participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons of the lateral superior olive (LSO) in the auditory brainstem play a fundamental role in binaural sound localization. Previous theoretical studies developed various types of neuronal models to study the physiological functions of the LSO. These models were usually tuned to a small set of physiological data with specific aims in mind. Therefore, it is unclear whether and how they can be related to each other, how widely applicable they are, and which model is suitable for what purposes. In this study, we address these questions for six different single-compartment integrate-and-fire (IF) type LSO models. The models are divided into two groups depending on their subthreshold responses: passive (linear) models with only the leak conductance and active (nonlinear) models with an additional low-voltage-activated potassium conductance that is prevalent among the auditory system. Each of these two groups is further subdivided into three subtypes according to the spike generation mechanism: one with simple threshold-crossing detection and voltage reset, one with threshold-crossing detection plus a current to mimic spike shapes, and one with a depolarizing exponential current for spiking. In our simulations, all six models were driven by identical synaptic inputs and calibrated with common criteria for binaural tuning. The resulting spike rates of the passive models were higher for intensive inputs and lower for temporally structured inputs than those of the active models, confirming the active function of the potassium current. Within each passive or active group, the simulated responses resembled each other, regardless of the spike generation types. These results, in combination with the analysis of computational costs, indicate that an active IF model is more suitable than a passive model for accurately reproducing temporal coding of LSO. The simulation of realistic spike shapes with an extended spiking mechanism added relatively small computational costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the soundscape approach, environmental sounds are not considered noise, but as a source and as a component of the spatial planning and design process. It is necessary to evaluate the soundscape in urban spaces in a multifaceted and holistic manner, together with many factors such as physical, social, cultural, psychological, architectural, and so on. In this study, it is aimed to develop an estimation model that will allow the stages that take a long time to progress faster and more systematically in the multifaceted evaluation of the sound environment pleasantness levels of the users in urban spaces with the soundscape approach. For the model's quantitative data, sound quality metrics (loudness, sharpness, roughness) obtained from binaural sound recordings were used. The fuzzy logic estimation model is constructed by using Simple Membership Functions and the Fuzzy Rules Generation Technique (SMRGT) method, considering the characteristics of users and the survey area. In the model, it was possible to convey user experiences, and a simple approach that could be expressed numerically and understood was obtained with the fiction created with verbal concepts. Flexibility is allowed to diversify quantitative and qualitative metrics. The model has been tested with the case study performed with the users. As a result of the study, a close relationship was determined between the model outputs and the subjective data of the users. The efficiency ratios of other variables (age, gender, reasons for coming to the region, frequency of visit, duration of stay) belonging to users not included in the model were also determined. In this study, it has been revealed that the level of pleasantness of the sound environment in urban spaces should be evaluated not only in terms of quantitative data but also on the characteristics of the spaces and users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In daily life, natural or man-made structures influence sound propagation, causing reflections and diffraction with potential effects on auditory spatial perception. While the effect of isolated reflections on binaural localization has been investigated, consequences of edge diffraction on spatial perception have received less attention. Here, effects of edge diffraction on the horizontal localization of a sound source were assessed when a flat square plate occludes the direct sound or produces a reflection in an otherwise anechoic environment. Binaural recordings were obtained with an artificial head for discrete sound source positions along two horizontal trajectories in the vicinity of the plate, including conditions near the incident and reflection shadow boundary. In a listening test, the apparent source position was matched for conditions with and without the plate, resulting in azimuth offsets between the apparent and physical source of up to 12°. The perceived direction of occluded frontal sound sources was laterally shifted to the visible region near the edge of the plate. Geometrical-acoustics-based simulations with different methods to binaurally render diffracted sound paths were technically and perceptually compared to the measurements. The observed localization offset was reproduced with the acoustic simulations when diffraction was rendered considering the individual ear positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binaural audio synthesis (BAS) aims to restore binaural audio from mono signals obtained from the environment to enhance users' immersive experiences. It plays an essential role in building Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality environments. Existing deep neural network (DNN)-based BAS systems synthesize binaural audio by modeling the overall sound propagation processes from the source to the left and right ears, which encompass early decay, room reverberation, and head/ear-related filtering. However, this end-to-end modeling approach brings in the overfitting problem for BAS models when they are trained using a small and homogeneous data set. Moreover, existing losses cannot well supervise the training process. As a consequence, the accuracy of synthesized binaural audio is far from satisfactory on binaural differences. In this work, we propose a novel DNN-based BAS method, namely DIFFBAS, to improve the accuracy of synthesized binaural audio from the perspective of the interaural phase difference. Specifically, DIFFBAS is trained using the average signals of the left and right channels. To make the model learn the binaural differences, we propose a new loss named Interaural Phase Difference (IPD) loss to supervise the model training. Extensive experiments have been performed and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the DIFFBAS model and the IPD loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study on soundscape, the distinction between felt emotion and perceived emotion in soundscape measurement has not been addressed as much as that in music studies. This research was conducted to investigate perceived and felt emotions associated with soundscape evaluation in urban open spaces through a laboratory audio-visual experiment using photographs and binaural recordings of 16 urban open locations across Harbin, China. In total, 46 participants were required to assess both the "perceived emotion" and "felt emotion" of the soundscapes using a questionnaire (in Chinese). First, five felt emotions and seven perceived emotions associated with the soundscape were identified, among which the dominant factors were enjoyment and excitement for felt emotions and comfortable and festive for perceived emotions. Second, when comparing perceived and felt emotions, the holistic soundscape descriptor "preference" is more suitable for predicting through felt emotion, while the holistic soundscape descriptor "appropriateness" is more suitable for predicting through perceived emotion. Third, preference is a more stringent soundscape descriptor than appropriateness, indicating a higher level of requirement in its definition. Meanwhile, preference is a more emotional soundscape descriptor than appropriateness. It may be inferred that for evaluating soundscapes, the more emotional the descriptor, the greater its stringency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, headphones have become increasingly popular worldwide. There are numerous models on the market today, varying in technical characteristics and offering different listening experiences. This article presents an application for simulating the sound response of specific headphone models by physically wearing others. In the future, for example, this application could help to guide people who already own a pair of headphones during the decision-making process of purchasing a new headphone model. However, the potential fields of application are much broader. An in-depth study of digital signal processing was carried out with the implementation of a computational model. Prior to this, an analysis was performed on impulse response measurements of specific headphones, which allowed for a better understanding of the behavior of each set of headphones. Finally, an evaluation of the entire system was conducted through a listening test. The analysis of the results showed that the software works reasonably well in replicating the target headphones. We hope that this work will stimulate further efforts in the same direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This project introduces a pedagogical framework to raise awareness of ecological, social, and urban issues through the immersive exploration of urban soundscapes. Building on a methodology combining acoustic and psychoacoustic measurements with questionnaires [11], learners are immersed in a sound environment through binaural recordings and 3D renderings. They analyze physical and perceptual data, comparing objective measures with subjective feelings. This experimental and sensitive approach awakens engaged listening in the face of societal challenges. It develops transversal skills and qualities of attention to the environment. By revealing the complexity of urban soundscapes, this project opens up new perspectives for understanding the interactions between sound, space and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Binaural beats are one of the new methods of brainwave synchronization. However, there is little knowledge about its clinical applications. The positive effect of this method on executive functions, such as attention and working memory, in the γ band has been mainly confirmed in healthy individuals. Still, its effectiveness on disorders such as obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), with a prominent cognitive profile, has not been established. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the effect of binaural beats on working memory and the severity of OCD symptoms in the γ band in the afected women. Methods: Twenty-nine OCD women aged 25-40 years referring to psychological clinics in Tehran City, Iran, were selected by convenience sampling. After completing the symptom checklist 90 (SCL90) and the Yale-Brown severity scale (SS), the participants were given the Wechsler memory scale (WMS) digit repetition subtests. Then, they were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=15) and control (n=14) groups. The audio file of the binaural beats in the γ band was provided to the experimental group. The participants in the control group listened to the normal (no-wave) audio file. Both groups listened to the audio files for two weeks, three times a week, for 30 minutes each time. The Yale-Brown SS and digit repetition in post-test and one-month follow-up periods were obtained from both groups. Results: According to the results, the severity of OCD symptoms was significantly reduced in the post-test and follow-up stages by the γ binaural beats (P<0.05). Also, the working memory function was improved, although it was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study show that binaural beats can be used as a complementary treatment to reduce the severity of OCD symptoms. Also, it seems that the patients' working memory is strengthened with this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve human-like behaviour during speech interactions, it is necessary for a humanoid robot to estimate the location of a human talker. Here, we present a method to optimize the parameters used for the direction of arrival (DOA) estimation, while also considering real-time applications for human-robot interaction scenarios. This method is applied to binaural sound source localization framework on a humanoid robotic head. Real data is collected and annotated for this work. Optimizations are performed via a brute force method and a Bayesian model based method, results are validated and discussed, and effects on latency for real-time use are also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies on the advantages of binaural hearing have long been focused on sound localization and spatial stream segregation. The binaural advantages have also been observed in speech perception in reverberation. Both human speech and animal vocalizations contain temporal features that are critical for speech perception and animal communication. However, whether there are binaural advantages for sound temporal information processing in the central auditory system has not been elucidated. Gap detection threshold (GDT), the ability to detect the shortest silent interval in a sound, has been widely used to measure the auditory temporal resolution. In the present study, we determined GDTs of rat inferior collicular neurons under both monaural and binaural hearing conditions. We found that the majority of the inferior collicular neurons in adult rats exhibited binaural advantages in gap detection, i.e., better neural gap detection ability in binaural hearing conditions compared to monaural hearing condition. However, this binaural advantage in sound temporal information processing was not significant in the inferior collicular neurons of P14-21 and P22-30 rats. Additionally, we also observed age-related changes in neural temporal acuity in the rat inferior colliculus. These results demonstrate a new advantage of binaural hearing (i.e., binaural advantage in temporal processing) in the central auditory system in addition to sound localization and spatial stream segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambisonic room impulse responses (ARIRs) are recorded to capture the spatial acoustic characteristics of specific rooms, with widespread applications in virtual and augmented reality. While the first-order Ambisonics (FOA) microphone array is commonly employed for three-dimensional (3D) room acoustics recording due to its easy accessibility, higher spatial resolution necessitates using higher-order Ambisonics (HOA) in applications such as binaural rendering and sound field reconstruction. This paper introduces a novel approach, leveraging generative models to upmix ARIRs. The evaluation results validate the model's effectiveness at upmixing first-order ARIRs to higher-order representations, surpassing the aliasing frequency limitations. Furthermore, the spectral errors observed in the Binaural Room Transfer Functions (BRTFs) indicate the potential benefits of using upmixed ARIRs for binaural rendering, significantly improving rendering accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binaural audio provides human listeners with an immersive spatial sound experience, but most existing videos lack binaural audio recordings. We propose an audio spatialization method that draws on visual information in videos to convert their monaural (single-channel) audio to binaural audio. Whereas existing approaches leverage visual features extracted directly from video frames, our approach explicitly disentangles the geometric cues present in the visual stream to guide the learning process. In particular, we develop a multi-task framework that learns geometry-aware features for binaural audio generation by accounting for the underlying room impulse response, the visual stream's coherence with the sound source(s) positions, and the consistency in geometry of the sounding objects over time. Furthermore, we introduce two new large video datasets: one with realistic binaural audio simulated for real-world scanned environments, and the other with pseudo-binaural audio obtained from ambisonic sounds in YouTube 360 ∘ videos. On three datasets, we demonstrate the efficacy of our method, which achieves state-of-the-art results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: This study aims to investigate the interplay between roadside trees and pedestrians' assessment of traffic noise and comfort. The study examines the potential effects of visual and design elements of roadside trees on the overall soundscape comfort. Methods: The study design involves a systematic exploration of different conditions, encompassing traffic volume, distance from sound source, and tree density. For each combination, two experimental scenarios are created: (1) participants experience a binaural sound recording exclusively, and (2) participants experience the same binaural recording while concurrently immersed in a virtual reality (VR) video. Results: Analysis of participants' noise perception, measured using a quiet-noisy scale, reveals no significant disparity between conditions. This suggests that the mere presence of roadside trees does not necessarily lead to a perceived reduction in noise loudness. However, evaluation of sound intensity exposes a notable discrepancy between low and medium tree density levels. Furthermore, the study confirms the impact of roadside tree visibility, with scenes containing trees yielding more positive evaluations compared to sound-only scenarios. Remarkably, the absence of trees in the roadside scene garners consistent evaluations across both experimental conditions. Significantly, higher roadside tree density in conjunction with the combined sound and VR video condition prompts a more favorable assessment than the sound-only scenario. Discussion: While the study indicates that roadside trees might not substantially mitigate perceived physical noise levels, their influence on the psychological well-being of urban inhabitants is considerable. The findings highlight that even though these trees may not overtly diminish noise, they hold substantial potential to enhance the overall comfort and well-being of city residents. This underscores the multifaceted benefits of integrating green spaces into urban design for improving the quality of urban soundscapes and residents' experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Immersive Enclosure: Virtual Reality in Japan" by Paul Roquet explores the cultural and historical context of virtual reality (VR) in Japan. The book challenges the dominant narrative of VR as a decontextualized technology by examining its development in Japan and its appeal as an escape from reality. Roquet discusses the redefinition of VR in Japan during the early 1990s and its connection to the country's interest in new media technologies. The book also explores the gendered and colonial aspects of VR, as well as its potential for surveillance and data collection. Overall, "The Immersive Enclosure" offers a localized and critical perspective on VR in Japan, grounded in historical and social trends. [Extracted from the article]

This study proposes a novel off-screen sound separation method based on audio-visual pre-training. In the field of audio-visual analysis, researchers have leveraged visual information for audio manipulation tasks, such as sound source separation. Although such audio manipulation tasks are based on correspondences between audio and video, these correspondences are not always established. Specifically, sounds coming from outside a screen have no audio-visual correspondences and thus interfere with conventional audio-visual learning. The proposed method separates such off-screen sounds based on their arrival directions using binaural audio, which provides us with three-dimensional sensation. Furthermore, we propose a new pre-training method that can consider the off-screen space and use the obtained representation to improve off-screen sound separation. Consequently, the proposed method can separate off-screen sounds irrespective of the direction from which they arrive. We conducted our evaluation using generated video data to circumvent the problem of difficulty in collecting ground truth for off-screen sounds. We confirmed the effectiveness of our methods through off-screen sound detection and separation tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of audio systems that employ binaural synthesis with head tracking has become increasingly popular, particularly in virtual reality gaming systems. The binaural synthesis process uses the Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTF) as an input required to assign the directions of arrival to sounds coming from virtual sound sources in the created virtual environments. Generic HRTFs are often used for this purpose to accommodate all potential listeners. The hypothesis of the research is that the use of individual HRTF in binaural synthesis instead of generic HRTF leads to improved accuracy and quality of virtual sound source localization, thus enhancing the user experience. A novel methodology is proposed that involves the use of dynamic virtual sound sources. In the experiments, the test participants were asked to determine the direction of a dynamic virtual sound source in both the horizontal and vertical planes using both generic and individual HRTFs. The gathered data are statistically analyzed, and the accuracy of localization is assessed with respect to the type of HRTF used. The individual HRTFs of the test participants are measured using a novel and efficient method that is accessible to a broad range of users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented review discusses recent research on human echolocation by blind and sighted subjects, aiming to classify and evaluate the methodologies most commonly used when testing active echolocation methods. Most of the reviewed studies compared small groups of both blind and sighted volunteers, although one in four studies used sighted testers only. The most common trial procedure was for volunteers to detect or localize static obstacles, e.g., discs, boards, or walls at distances ranging from a few centimeters to several meters. Other tasks also included comparing or categorizing objects. Few studies utilized walking in real or virtual environments. Most trials were conducted in natural acoustic conditions, as subjects are marginally less likely to correctly echolocate in anechoic or acoustically dampened rooms. Aside from live echolocation tests, other methodologies included the use of binaural recordings, artificial echoes or rendered virtual audio. The sounds most frequently used in the tests were natural sounds such as the palatal mouth click and finger snapping. Several studies have focused on the use of artificially generated sounds, such as noise or synthetic clicks. A promising conclusion from all the reviewed studies is that both blind and sighted persons can efficiently learn echolocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The interaction effect of 3D spatialization of ES and HiS on human perception was investigated. • Both SSE and subjective impressions of others' presence are affected by spatialization of HiS and ES. • A sense of presence can be controlled by ES and HiS. Advancements in virtual reality technology have led to a corresponding increase in demand for virtual environments with multimodal reality in terms of not only visual, but also auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory stimuli. From an auditory standpoint, to reproduce a more realistic space in which audio communication with others occurs, the influence of acoustic reproduction methods on the sense of presence of another person needs to be examined. Assuming a virtual environment in which either artificial sounds generated by others or nonhuman background sounds generated in the surroundings, or both, coexist, the present study investigated the behavioral and psychological effects of the three-dimensional spatialization of human- and nonhuman-induced background sounds on users. First, human- and nonhuman-induced background sounds were reproduced in three different ways: binaural, quasi-binaural, and diotic playback. Next, experiments were conducted to evaluate the subjective impression of the sense of someone being present in the environment and to confirm the social Simon effect (SSE), which is excited by the imagined presence of others nearby. The results revealed that both the behavioral emergence of SSE and subjective impressions of the presence of others coexisting nearby are strongly influenced by the relative degree of spatialization of both human- and nonhuman-induced environmental sounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the reported auditory deficits and developmental challenges in children with unilateral microtia and aural atresia (UMAA), there remains a lack of consensus on early intervention with bone conduction hearing aids (BCHAs) to restore binaural hearing due to the uncertain clinical benefits and intolerability of the conventional devices. Previous studies investigating the auditory benefits under binaural hearing condition were limited and demonstrated controversial opinions in heterogenous patient groups with various devices. Our study aimed to evaluate the audiological performance, including monoaural and binaural hearing, and subjective satisfaction of the ADHEAR system, a novel adhesive BCHA, in experienced pediatric users with UMAA. Twelve children, with a mean age of 9.08 years and previous experience using the ADHEAR system averaging 2.76 years, were included in our final analysis. Auditory performance of monoaural hearing with the affected ears was assessed by sound-field audiometry, speech recognition threshold (SRT), word recognition score (WRS) in quiet and noise. Auditory performance of binaural hearing was assessed by SRT in quiet and noise, along with a virtual sound localization test. Subjective satisfaction was measured with questionnaires. Monoaural hearing of the affected ears improved in sound-field audiometry (by 18.44 dB HL), SRT (by 17.08 dB HL) and WRS (by 27.00 % in quiet and 30.50 % in noise). Binaural hearing improved in SRT in quiet (by 1.17 dB HL), remained no significant difference in noise and enhanced in sound localization test (reduction of RMS error by 5.96°). The questionnaires indicate satisfying experiences despite skin reactions encountered. In children with UMAA under long-term and routine use of the ADHEAR system reveals not only enhancement of audiological performance in the affected ears but also demonstrates potential benefits in speech recognition and sound localization under binaural hearing condition. Users generally expressed satisfaction with the device, while skin reaction is more noticeable in humid subtropical climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural listening involves a constant deployment of small head movement. Spatial listening is facilitated by head movements, especially when resolving front-back confusions, an otherwise common issue during sound localization under head-still conditions. The present study investigated which acoustic cues are utilized by human listeners to localize sounds using small head movements (below ±10° around the center). Seven normal-hearing subjects participated in a sound localization experiment in a virtual reality environment. Four acoustic cue stimulus conditions were presented (full spectrum, flattened spectrum, frozen spectrum, free-field) under threemovement conditions (nomovement, head rotations over the yaw axis and over the pitch axis). Localization performance was assessed using three metrics: lateral and polar precision error and front-back confusion rate. Analysis through mixed-effects models showed that even small yaw rotations provide a remarkable decrease in front-back confusion rate, whereas pitch rotations did not show much of an effect. Furthermore, MSS cues improved localization performance even in the presence of dITD cues. However, performance was similar between stimuli with and without dMSS cues. This indicates that human listeners utilize the MSS cues before the head moves, but do not rely on dMSS cues to localize sounds when utilizing small headmovements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence regarding the analgesic effect of distraction through immersion in virtual reality (VR) for care-induced pain has been documented in several phase 2 trials, but comparison with standard treatments in large, randomized studies is needed. Objective: In this open-label, multicenter, randomized, phase 3 trial, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of a novel VR therapy solution for distraction in the context of bone marrow biopsy. Methods: Bliss is a VR software with 4 imaginary interactive environments in 3 dimensions with binaural sound (head-mounted display). Efficacy regarding pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS; score from 0 to 10) immediately after the biopsy. Secondary end points were anxiety and tolerance. Modified intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Results: Overall, 126 patients with previously documented untreated or suspected malignant hemopathy between September 6, 2018, and May 18, 2020, were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive pain prevention with a mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygen (MEOPA; n=63) or VR (n=63) before and during the bone marrow biopsy. We excluded 8 patients from the final analysis (3 in the MEOPA group and 5 in the VR group). All patients received local anesthesia (lidocaine) before biopsy. Follow-up was limited to 1 month after the biopsy. Participants' median age was 65.5 (range 18-87) years, and 54.2% (64/118) of patients were male. The average pain intensity was 3.5 (SD 2.6, 95% CI –1.6 to 8.6) for the MEOPA group and 3.0 (SD 2.4, 95% CI –1.7 to 7.7) for the VR group, without any significant differences in age, sex, center, and hemopathy (P =.26). Concerning anxiety, 67.5% (79/117; fear of pain questionnaire) of the patients were afraid before the biopsy, and anxiety scores were moderate to very high in 26.3% (30/114; revised Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire) of the patients before the biopsy and 9.0% (10/114) after the biopsy for all patients, without a significant difference between the 2 groups (P =.83). Immersion in VR was well tolerated by the majority (54/57, 95%) of patients in the VR group. Conclusions: The intensity of pain did not significantly differ between both arms. VR was well tolerated, and the satisfaction of patients, nurses, and physicians was very high. VR could be an alternative treatment in case of contraindication or intolerance to MEOPA. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03483194; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03483194 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural listening involves a constant deployment of small head movement. Spatial listening is facilitated by head movements, especially when resolving front-back confusions, an otherwise common issue during sound localization under head-still conditions. The present study investigated which acoustic cues are utilized by human listeners to localize sounds using small head movements (below ±10° around the center). Seven normal-hearing subjects participated in a sound localization experiment in a virtual reality environment. Four acoustic cue stimulus conditions were presented (full spectrum, flattened spectrum, frozen spectrum, free-field) under three movement conditions (no movement, head rotations over the yaw axis and over the pitch axis). Localization performance was assessed using three metrics: lateral and polar precision error and front-back confusion rate. Analysis through mixed-effects models showed that even small yaw rotations provide a remarkable decrease in front-back confusion rate, whereas pitch rotations did not show much of an effect. Furthermore, MSS cues improved localization performance even in the presence of dITD cues. However, performance was similar between stimuli with and without dMSS cues. This indicates that human listeners utilize the MSS cues before the head moves, but do not rely on dMSS cues to localize sounds when utilizing small head movements.

This article presents the findings from an experimental study on the use of binaural audio in two long-form journalistic features broadcast on Portuguese radio. From a production and narrative design perspective, our objective is to examine whether/how binaural audio implies a transformation of previously established news radio production work principles and practices, as well as of storytelling ideation and techniques. From a user experience viewpoint, we examine whether the use of binaural audio translates into higher levels of self-reported immersion and place illusion (n = 77). Despite the spread of new audio journalism formats, media and communication studies have until now largely neglected the role of spatial audio in the construction of immersion and the illusion of place. We argue that this epistemic omission translates into an image-centric conception and operationalization of the immersive journalism proposal, which stands out as a knowledge gap regarding the work of journalistic storytellers and relating to participants' actual experience. The original contribution of this article is threefold: (1) conceptual, by broadening the perspective of journalism studies' scholars and media professionals on the concept of immersive journalism, which, in our view, is often incorrectly considered to be synonymous with that of virtual reality journalism; (2) practical, by generating a more nuanced understanding of how actual practitioners perceive and employ immersive journalism; (3) phenomenological, by developing an examination of the factors that influence listeners' ultimate perception of the immersive experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]