The Effect of Sound Delivery Methods on a User's Sense of Presence in a Virtual Environment

The purpose behind this thesis was two-fold. First, the effect of sound delivery on a user's sense of presence in a virtual environment was investigated. Second, the physiological responses of electrodermal activity, heart rate, end temperature were measured end correlated to the user's subjective sense of presence in an attempt to determine if physiological measures can be used in the future as en objective measure of presence. A computer based first-person shooter gene (Medal of Honor: Allied Assault(Trademark)) was utilized as the virtual environment. The independent variable wee sound delivery method (no sound, 5.1 surround sound, headphones, end headphones with subwoofer). The dependent variables were physiological response end questionnaire results. Results indicated that sound contributed to the user's sense of presence as evidenced by electrodermal activity and temperature end questionnaire scores. Also, significant changes occurred between the speaker end headphone sound delivery methods. This response suggests that speakers crested a higher sense of emotion and possibly induced a higher level of presence in participants.Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA is the author of 'The Effect of Sound Delivery Methods on a User's Sense of Presence in a Virtual Environment' with ISBN 9781423509844 and ISBN 1423509846.