With 3D imaging enhancements for computer technology and virtual visual worlds, other senses appear to have been left in the background. The practical benefits of 3D for CAD-CAM are readily apparent, but what about 3D sound? NASA researchers can provide the answer.

Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA, investigates new fields and technologies connected with NASA’s interests. One of their research projects was spurred by a need to improve communications for the flight director at NASA’s mission control in Houston. Up to seven different voices may simultaneously be communicating with mission control, yet traditional systems entail listening with only one ear. Speech intelligibility relies on stereo cues much like visual depth perception relies on the use of both eyes. In response to this challenge, Dr. Durand R. Begault and his ARC colleagues have developed the Ames Spatial Auditory Display communication tool. “Our everyday ability to listen to one desired voice out of a collection of different voices is known as the ‘cocktail party effect,’ which depends on two-ear listening to separate the sounds in space,” explains Begault. “The ASAD simulates this by effecting directional cues for each input based on time and level differences to the ears.”

Potential applications for ASAD reach beyond NASA’s mission control—applications which can be developed by businesses connected with the Ames Technology Commercialization Center. The ATCC acts as a “small business incubator,” using a lab-to-market approach to pair NASA-developed technology with growing commercial enterprises. NASA anticipates that these partnerships will provide a “greater return on investment of US tax dollars and enhance the quality of life for Americans and others around the world.” 

ATCC has selected BreakAway Sound, Los Angeles, CA, to further develop and market the ASAD tool. The fledgling company is currently designing universally-applicable software and more reliable but inflexible microchips that can be licensed to OEMs. Maisha Hazzard, president and CEO of BreakAway says, “This technology creates a sphere of sound instead of just a 2-dimensional plane, which can be used to help air traffic controllers identify individual voices in a virtual space, or NASA technicians to identify the source of sounds onboard vehicles like the shuttle.” Other projected end-uses include PC gaming software and 3D audio entertainment. On the less frivolous side, sound immersion can be used to locate sounds from a distance, facilitating emergency search-and-rescue operations in tight environments as well as improving submarine audio locator operations.

For more information:

Circle 150—Ames Research Center, or connect directly to their website via the Online Reader Service Program at www.RSLeads.com/?111df-150

Circle 151—BreakAway Sound