This fast-track project will see the creation and demonstration of 3D audio tools that address the acoustic challenges associated with three mental health disorders: depression, acoustic hypersensitivity, and dementia.
Delivered via standard headphones as well as extended reality (XR) platforms such as virtual and mixed reality headsets, the ambition is to give users greater control over their sound environment. For example, suppressing background noise clutter, or optimally repositioning virtual sound sources to maximize separation and thereby improve intelligibility.
The theory of 3D sound capture and rendering has been around since the 1960s. Commercial interest in hitherto niche technologies such as ambisonics and binaural playback, however, has exploded over recent years. In February 2021, Samsung introduced 360 audio on its Galaxy Buds Pro. A few months later, Apple would join the ambisonics movement when it added spatial audio to its online music streaming platform.
Such innovations have raised awareness of, and consumer demand for, truly immersive content and coincide with a growing appreciation of the role of 360 audio in the management of mental health. Recent research suggests, for example, the inability to localize sound sources is not just a symptom of dementia, but a risk factor that could potentially be treated.
Elucidare welcomes input from caregivers and mental health charities to help guide the design and operation of these demonstrations.
Dr David Nugent, Chief Executive of Elucidare, commented: “Now is an exciting moment for us to be developing mental health therapies based on spatial audio processing. Only last month, Microsoft added spatial audio to Teams, its online video conferencing platform. The alignment of audio and visual clues is known to simplify speaker identification and thereby improve dialogue intelligibility.”
“Our work builds upon foundations we have built in the acoustic marketplace over the last decade. The underlying blind source separation technologies are patented, and we welcome approaches from companies working in the spatial audio sector to discuss licensing opportunities.”
