Alternative audio solution to enhance immersions in deployable synthetic environments
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Authors
Mosbruger, Michael C.
Subjects
Advisors
Shilling, Russell D.
Darken, Rudolph P.
Date of Issue
2003-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The purpose behind this thesis was to examine the effect of vibro-tactile feedback on a user's degree of immersion in a synthetic environment. Sub-woofers usually provide the vibrotactile feedback in surround sound systems. The alternate method explored in this thesis utilized a "seat shaker" to generate the appropriate tactile feedback in the environment. The solution theoretically enables the user to receive a compelling, multi-modal presentation of the environment with deployable (small footprint), unobtrusive equipment. Physiological responses (electrodermal activity, heart rate, and temperature) were measured in an attempt to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between a user's degree of immersion and emotional response in a 5.2 surround sound environment versus one with stereo headphones and a seat shaker. A computer based first-person shooter game (America's Army: Army Operations SM) was utilized as the synthetic environment. The independent variable was vibration delivery method (headphone with no vibration, 5.2 surround sound, headphones with seat shaker). The dependent variables were physiological response. Results indicated that vibro-tactile feedback did enhance emotional response and therefore immersion. A surround sound system might be effectively replaced by headphones and a seat shaker to achieve the same emotional reaction.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation (MOVES)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xvi, 173 p. : ill. (some col.) ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.