The Effect of Spatial Audio on the Virtual Representation of Personal Space

Abstract

Auditory feedback is an important element in the perception of one's surroundings. Vocal intonation betrays emotion, step frequency determines urgency, and volume gives way to proximity. While it is widely understood that sound is an important element in game design and film, research on how auditory feedback affects interactions taking place in virtual reality experiences is lacking. In this work, we propose an experiment in which we will begin to uncover the effect of auditory feedback, particularly spatial audio, on the preservation of personal space in an immersive virtual environment. Users will be exposed to visual and auditory stimuli and asked to report both interpersonal and peripersonal space. Personal space is dynamically responsive to circumstance, and is notably malleable by the presence of auditory stimuli in the real world. Consequently, we expect personal space to dynamically change in the presence of auditory stimuli in an immersive virtual environment. There is no prior study into how auditory feedback affects the maintenance of this space in virtual reality.