InEarGuide - a navigation and interaction feedback system for virtual TV studio productions

This paper presents an approach to integrate non-visual user feedback in today's virtual tv studio productions. Since recent studies showed that systems providing vibro-tactile feedback are not sufficient for replacing the common visual feedback, we developed an audio-based solution using an in ear headphone system, enabling a talent to move, avoid and point to virtual objects in a blue or green box. The system consists of an optical head tracking system, a wireless in ear monitor system and a workstation, which performs all application and audio processing. Using head related transfer functions, the talent gets directional and distance cues. Past research showed, that generating reflections of the sounds and simulating the acoustics of the virtual room helps the listener to conceive the acoustical feedback, we included this technique as well. In a user study with 15 participants the performance of the system was evaluated.