Outsource Industries Inc. OSIPSSLTX Manual Do Utilizador
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Appendix A
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The Sound Localization Guidebook Prototype
The Sound Localization Guidebook Prototype
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Appendix A
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associate a sound with an object, or interpret the meaning
of a sound. For O&M purposes, it is often a prerequisite that
the child be able to localize or determine the location of a
sound. When these fi rst four basic conditions are met, a child
can use conversion to make practical use of a sound as an aid
to the learner’s interaction with the environment. Awareness,
discrimination, and interpretation are basic listening skills
that children should be taught and should practice but that
are often well developed before a child enters school. While
localization and conversion are also often well developed,
since they form the underpinnings of more sophisticated
uses of sound, they need to be particularly practiced. The
importance of developing a conscious and practiced sense
of using sound when moving through the environment can
be illustrated by discussing some common daily activities. In
this appendix we will discuss some of the factors infl uencing
localization of sounds and illustrate how they play a role in
common O&M tasks.
of a sound. For O&M purposes, it is often a prerequisite that
the child be able to localize or determine the location of a
sound. When these fi rst four basic conditions are met, a child
can use conversion to make practical use of a sound as an aid
to the learner’s interaction with the environment. Awareness,
discrimination, and interpretation are basic listening skills
that children should be taught and should practice but that
are often well developed before a child enters school. While
localization and conversion are also often well developed,
since they form the underpinnings of more sophisticated
uses of sound, they need to be particularly practiced. The
importance of developing a conscious and practiced sense
of using sound when moving through the environment can
be illustrated by discussing some common daily activities. In
this appendix we will discuss some of the factors infl uencing
localization of sounds and illustrate how they play a role in
common O&M tasks.
The human perceptual system can determine the horizontal
position of a sound to within about 1 degree and can
determine the position of sounds in the vertical plane to
about 3 degrees (Perrott & Saberi, 1990), depending on
what kind of sound it is and the listening conditions. Our
auditory perceptual system is also not designed well for
determining distances to sounds (Zahorik, 2001; 2002a).
We are best at localizing sounds directly in front of us and
get better if we can listen to a sound for a longer time and
if we can move our heads as we listen. Our perception of
the distance to or location of sounds is easily confused by
distracting sounds (Langendijk, Kistler, & Wightman, 2001)
position of a sound to within about 1 degree and can
determine the position of sounds in the vertical plane to
about 3 degrees (Perrott & Saberi, 1990), depending on
what kind of sound it is and the listening conditions. Our
auditory perceptual system is also not designed well for
determining distances to sounds (Zahorik, 2001; 2002a).
We are best at localizing sounds directly in front of us and
get better if we can listen to a sound for a longer time and
if we can move our heads as we listen. Our perception of
the distance to or location of sounds is easily confused by
distracting sounds (Langendijk, Kistler, & Wightman, 2001)
or by differences in the loudness and frequency of sounds
(Schenkman, 1983).
(Schenkman, 1983).
Just like visually locating a stationary object, being able to
localize a stationary sound source is made easier through
the use of binaurality. Being able to move our heads while
listening maximizes the benefi t of having two ears. Because
our head separates our ears from each other, sounds coming
to our two ears are slightly different. Our brains are designed
to make use of that difference between the sounds at the
two ears to fi gure out from where the sound came.
localize a stationary sound source is made easier through
the use of binaurality. Being able to move our heads while
listening maximizes the benefi t of having two ears. Because
our head separates our ears from each other, sounds coming
to our two ears are slightly different. Our brains are designed
to make use of that difference between the sounds at the
two ears to fi gure out from where the sound came.
When we are listening to sounds around us, we usually
are not listening to only that sound. We either have other
sounds we are trying to ignore or the walls and objects
around us change the sound. This can be good or bad,
depending on what it is we want to do. If your objective is
to fi gure out from where a sound is coming, it is most easily
done if nothing is between you and the sound. If there are
lots of things around you or if you are in an enclosed room,
you might have trouble localizing a sound because of the
way the sound bounces off the objects and walls. However,
if your intent is to fi nd a particular object or to fi gure out the
dimensions of a space, then having sound bouncing around
is more helpful.
are not listening to only that sound. We either have other
sounds we are trying to ignore or the walls and objects
around us change the sound. This can be good or bad,
depending on what it is we want to do. If your objective is
to fi gure out from where a sound is coming, it is most easily
done if nothing is between you and the sound. If there are
lots of things around you or if you are in an enclosed room,
you might have trouble localizing a sound because of the
way the sound bounces off the objects and walls. However,
if your intent is to fi nd a particular object or to fi gure out the
dimensions of a space, then having sound bouncing around
is more helpful.
Chapter 4 dealt with the situation in which a sound in the
environment is stationary. In daily tasks, a person needs
to be able to localize stationary sounds to know where
important sound producing objects are. Being able to
localize sound producing objects such as vending machines,
environment is stationary. In daily tasks, a person needs
to be able to localize stationary sounds to know where
important sound producing objects are. Being able to
localize sound producing objects such as vending machines,
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