AES E-Library

G. Dickins, X. Sun, R. Cartwright, and D. Gunawan, "The Uncanny Valley of Spatial Voice," Paper P-5, (2013 September.). doi: G. Dickins, X. Sun, R. Cartwright, and D. Gunawan, "The Uncanny Valley of Spatial Voice," Paper P-5, (2013 September.). doi:
Abstract: In computer animation there is a known dip in comfort level as a function of the fidelity and likeness of a human image. This paper is an investigation of this same subjective phenomenon in the area of spatial voice. Since voice signals are very familiar they are likely to exhibit a similar trajectory of comfort. One possible theoretical explanation for this is that large errors tend to create a sense of distance and be accepted as degradation in the channel - for example we tolerate a low fidelity with most remote voice communication. For smaller errors, as the channel improves, the errors may be associated with the source or person speaking. Such error may trigger a sense of unease. In any communications system, practical considerations often lead to distortion in the capture, transport and reproduction of voice; attempts to disguise and mask distortion may lead to the perception of disturbing abnormalities by the subject. This paper combines a literature review in this area of perception, some hypotheses and some development experiences related to deliberate and adverse distortion of acoustic and spatial aspects of a sound field containing voice. A suggested analysis framework is presented for considering the relationship between the nature of a disturbance and the potential for disturbing or uncanny experiences. The potential aspects to be investigated from this are numerous - the focus of this paper is to present a framework that may help to understand and estimate the potential impact of the uncanny and to present examples for possible further investigation.

@article{dickins2013the,
author={dickins, glenn and sun, xuejing and cartwright, richard and gunawan, david},
journal={journal of the audio engineering society},
title={the uncanny valley of spatial voice},
year={2013},
volume={},
number={},
pages={},
doi={},
month={september},} @article{dickins2013the,
author={dickins, glenn and sun, xuejing and cartwright, richard and gunawan, david},
journal={journal of the audio engineering society},
title={the uncanny valley of spatial voice},
year={2013},
volume={},
number={},
pages={},
doi={},
month={september},
abstract={in computer animation there is a known dip in comfort level as a function of the fidelity and likeness of a human image. this paper is an investigation of this same subjective phenomenon in the area of spatial voice. since voice signals are very familiar they are likely to exhibit a similar trajectory of comfort. one possible theoretical explanation for this is that large errors tend to create a sense of distance and be accepted as degradation in the channel - for example we tolerate a low fidelity with most remote voice communication. for smaller errors, as the channel improves, the errors may be associated with the source or person speaking. such error may trigger a sense of unease. in any communications system, practical considerations often lead to distortion in the capture, transport and reproduction of voice; attempts to disguise and mask distortion may lead to the perception of disturbing abnormalities by the subject. this paper combines a literature review in this area of perception, some hypotheses and some development experiences related to deliberate and adverse distortion of acoustic and spatial aspects of a sound field containing voice. a suggested analysis framework is presented for considering the relationship between the nature of a disturbance and the potential for disturbing or uncanny experiences. the potential aspects to be investigated from this are numerous - the focus of this paper is to present a framework that may help to understand and estimate the potential impact of the uncanny and to present examples for possible further investigation.},}

TY - paper
TI - The Uncanny Valley of Spatial Voice
SP - EP -
AU - Dickins, Glenn
AU - Sun, Xuejing
AU - Cartwright, Richard
AU - Gunawan, David
PY - 2013
JO - Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
IS -
VO -
VL -
Y1 - September 2013 TY - paper
TI - The Uncanny Valley of Spatial Voice
SP - EP -
AU - Dickins, Glenn
AU - Sun, Xuejing
AU - Cartwright, Richard
AU - Gunawan, David
PY - 2013
JO - Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
IS -
VO -
VL -
Y1 - September 2013
AB - In computer animation there is a known dip in comfort level as a function of the fidelity and likeness of a human image. This paper is an investigation of this same subjective phenomenon in the area of spatial voice. Since voice signals are very familiar they are likely to exhibit a similar trajectory of comfort. One possible theoretical explanation for this is that large errors tend to create a sense of distance and be accepted as degradation in the channel - for example we tolerate a low fidelity with most remote voice communication. For smaller errors, as the channel improves, the errors may be associated with the source or person speaking. Such error may trigger a sense of unease. In any communications system, practical considerations often lead to distortion in the capture, transport and reproduction of voice; attempts to disguise and mask distortion may lead to the perception of disturbing abnormalities by the subject. This paper combines a literature review in this area of perception, some hypotheses and some development experiences related to deliberate and adverse distortion of acoustic and spatial aspects of a sound field containing voice. A suggested analysis framework is presented for considering the relationship between the nature of a disturbance and the potential for disturbing or uncanny experiences. The potential aspects to be investigated from this are numerous - the focus of this paper is to present a framework that may help to understand and estimate the potential impact of the uncanny and to present examples for possible further investigation.