Applications of psychoacoustics to information technology products

Abstract

Emerging usage models for computing devices require low acoustic noise, for example in home entertainment systems. Studies have shown that not only the overall level, but also the psychoacoustic aspects matter. This paper provides an overview of testing techniques that are used in the information technology industry and outlines two specific case studies. First, an extensive subjective psychoacoustic study was designed and conducted in multiple geographies to determine the aspects of sound that best describe the annoyance to sound from information technology products in a home type environment. Over 200 participants in four countries participated in this carefully controlled experiment and rated typical steady state sounds on a 5 point annoyance scale. The relevant sound quality metrics were extracted and geographical variations quantified. Second, in a paired comparison study the influence of modulation on annoyance was investigated by superimposing different frequency and amplitude modulated sounds onto a baseline sound. The results indicate that modulation can have a significant effect on subjective perception.