A framework for sound localization experiments and automation

Table-top computing has been growing in popularity slowly for the last decade and is poised to make in-roads into the consumer market soon, opening up another new market for the games industry. However, before surface computers become widely accepted, there are many questions with respect to sound production and reception for these devices that need to be explored. Here, we describe two experiments that examine sound localization on a horizontal (table-top computer) surface. In the first experiment we collect "ground truth" data regarding physical sound source localization by employing a computer controlled grid of 25 equally spaced loudspeakers. In the second experiment we investigate virtual sound source localization using bilinear interpolation amplitude panning method and a modified quadraphonic loudspeaker configuration whereby four loudspeakers are positioned at each corner of the surface in a manner such that they emanate sound in an "upwards" direction. Obtained results indicate that sound localization of virtual sound sources on a horizontal surface is prone to errors and this is confirmed with our physical sound source "ground truth" data.