Simone Spagnol, Michele Geronazzo, Davide Rocchesso and Federico Avanzini
The purpose of this paper is to present a system for customized binaural audio delivery based on the extraction of relevant features from a 2-D representation of the listener’s…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a system for customized binaural audio delivery based on the extraction of relevant features from a 2-D representation of the listener’s pinna.
Design/methodology/approach
The most significant pinna contours are extracted by means of multi-flash imaging, and they provide values for the parameters of a structural head-related transfer function (HRTF) model. The HRTF model spatializes a given sound file according to the listener’s head orientation, tracked by sensor-equipped headphones, with respect to the virtual sound source.
Findings
A preliminary localization test shows that the model is able to statically render the elevation of a virtual sound source better than non-individual HRTFs.
Research limitations/implications
Results encourage a deeper analysis of the psychoacoustic impact that the individualized HRTF model has on perceived elevation of virtual sound sources.
Practical implications
The model has low complexity and is suitable for implementation on mobile devices. The resulting hardware/software package will hopefully allow an easy and low-tech fruition of custom spatial audio to any user.
Originality/value
The authors show that custom binaural audio can be successfully deployed without the need of cumbersome subjective measurements.
Details
Keywords
Congcong Zhou, Chunlong Tu, Jian Tian, Jingjie Feng, Yun Gao and Xuesong Ye
The purpose of this paper is to design a low-power human physiological parameters monitoring system which can monitor six vital parameters simultaneously based on wearable body…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to design a low-power human physiological parameters monitoring system which can monitor six vital parameters simultaneously based on wearable body sensor network.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a low-power multiple physiological parameters monitoring system (MPMS) which comprises four subsystems. These are: electrocardiogram (ECG)/respiration (RESP) parameters monitoring subsystem with embedded algorithms; blood oxygen (SpO2)/pulse rate (PR)/body temperature (BT)/blood pressure (BP) parameters monitoring subsystem with embedded algorithms; main control subsystem which is in charge of system-level power management, communication and interaction design; and upper computer software subsystem which manipulates system function and analyzes data.
Findings
Results have successfully demonstrated monitoring human ECG, RESP, PR, SpO2, BP and BT simultaneously using the MPMS device. In addition, the power reduction technique developed in this work at the physical/hardware level is effective. Reliability of algorithms developed for monitoring these parameters is assessed by Fluke Prosim8 Vital Signs Simulators (produced by Fluke Corp. USA).
Practical implications
The MPMS device provides long-term health monitoring without interference from normal personal activities, which potentially allows applications in real-time daily healthcare monitoring, chronic diseases monitoring, elderly monitoring, human emotions recognization and so on.
Originality/value
First, a power reduction technique at the physical/hardware level is designed to realize low power consumption. Second, the proposed MPMS device enables simultaneously monitoring six key parameters. Third, unlike most monitoring systems in bulk size, the proposed system is much smaller (118 × 58 × 18.5 mm3, 140 g total weight). In addition, a comfortable smart shirt is fabricated to accommodate the portable device, offering reliable measurements.