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Biomedical subjects

R L McKinley

Publications and source records attributed to R L McKinley.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Aurally aided visual search under virtual and free-field listening conditions.

We examined the minimum latency required to locate and identify a visual target (visual search) in a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm in which the visual target could appear from any azimuth (0 degree to 360 degrees) and from a broad range of elevations (from 90 degrees above to 70 degrees below the horizon) relative to a person's initial line of gaze. Seven people were tested in six conditions: unaided search, three aurally aided search conditions, and two visually aided search conditions. Aurally aided search with both actual and virtual sound localization cues proved to be superior to unaided and visually guided search. Application of synthesized three-dimensional and two-dimensional sound cues in the workstations are discussed.

Acoustic Stimulation

3-dimensional auditory displays: development, applications, and performance.

Virtual or 3-D audio display technology has become a reality. This type of system has the capability of synthesizing signals presented over headphones that give the user the illusion that the sound is emanating from some external location. The development of this technology, its applications, and its performance in both laboratory and flight test situations are presented. Potential fighter aircraft applications include threat location warning, wingman location indication, spatially separated multi-channel communications, and audio target location indications. The laboratory performance data show an average localization error in azimuth of approximately 5 degrees, a minimum audible angle of approximately 5 degrees, and a speech intelligibility improvement of up to 28%. Flight test results demonstrated successful audio cued target acquisition, a subjective decrease in target acquisition times, a subjective improvement in speech intelligibility, a subjective increase in situational awareness, and a subjective decrease in pilot workload. A summary of both laboratory and flight test results is presented in addition to recommendations for future research.

Acoustics

Increase in jammed word intelligibility due to training of listeners.

Data are presented on the effect of training on naive subjects' ability to listen to voice communications under conditions of simulated cockpit noise and active jamming. The results indicate that training improved the performance of listeners under all conditions tested. Suggestions are made for further research to quantify increases in performance of communicators in jammed environments due to training.

Aerospace Medicine