Applications of virtual audio

Technology for electronically simulating spatial sound over loudspeakers and headphones has matured in the past few decades to facilitate many new applications of virtual audio. Electronic simulation of directional and distance auditory cues has greatly expanded the areas of application of virtual audio. Some potential aerospace applications include monitoring spatially separated speech communication signals to increase understanding, navigating by an auditory beacon, and acquiring visual targets with the aid of directional audio signals. Potential non-aerospace applications include navigational aids for the blind and enhanced virtual reality simulation for entertainment and education. In the future, more applications may use virtual audio technology to display spatial auditory information. Past, present, and future applications are discussed for aerospace, research, and entertainment industries. Techniques for creating virtual audio over loudspeakers and headphones are described. It is concluded that virtual audio systems are more flexible than previous physical simulations and can improve low fidelity