Speech perception in virtual environments

Abstract

Many virtual environments like interactive computer games, educational software or training simulations make use of speech to convey important information to the user. These applications typically present a combination of background music, sound effects, ambient sounds and dialog simultaneously to create a rich auditory environment. Since interactive virtual environments allow users to roam freely among different sound producing objects, sound designers do not always have exact control over what sounds the user will perceive at any given time. This dissertation investigates factors that influence the perception of speech in virtual environments under adverse listening conditions.