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| Biomedical Design Criteria for Helicopter Auditory Displays |
Army Science and Technology Objective: IV.ME.2002.03
Problem
New auditory display technologies, such as virtual auditory displays, have not been tested in subject populations with hearing loss or in noisy environments typical of rotary-wing aircraft and other military vehicles. If aircrew members or vehicle operators do not correctly perceive these auditory displays, weapon system safety may be compromised and weapon system effectiveness may be diminished.
Medical Research Solution
Evaluate new auditory display technologies in operational environments. The research will focus on understanding how the brain process spatial auditory cues and how much the brain can compensate with hearing impairment. Research techniques and disciplines will include dichotic speech analysis and auditory icon and virtual display engineering. Researchers will evaluate sound localization using new auditory display technologies with hearing protective devices, characterize the effects of stimulus uncertainty and hearing profile on free-field and virtual auditory localization, describe the operational utility of auditory icons in rotary-wing aircrews having various hearing profiles, complete studies of speech communication using virtual auditory displays in soldiers with hearing loss, and summarize the ability of hearing-impaired soldiers to use virtual auditory displays for speech and non-speech signals.
Products
Biomedically based design criteria for auditory displays to ensure effective display use by all Army aviators and soldiers, regardless of hearing profile, operating in noisy environments. Properly designed auditory displays will increase weapon system effectiveness and enhance the safety and operational mission capabilities of the soldiers who use them.
Last Update: April 2, 2003