Sonic mapping: towards engaging the user in the design of sound for computerized artifacts

This paper argues for new approaches to the design of sound for contemporary interactive technologies. We begin by presenting what we feel to be the key challenges as yet unaddressed by conventional auditory display research. Subsequently, we propose a user-centered, acoustic ecology-informed, design method that we feel can be built upon to inform the design of sound for contemporary interactive technologies, thus tackling some of the challenges introduced. Our approach consists of three stages: firstly, encouraging designers and users to experience the original auditory environment, identifying the key sounds within that environment, and then summarizing this information into an 'earwitness account' that can be used as a prelude for informing the design of sonically enhanced technologies that may be used within similar environments. By trialing this method with undergraduate interactive media design students, we identify the methodological challenges involved in attempting to engage people, who are not necessarily 'sound professionals', with their existing auditory environments. We highlight the opportunities that arise and pitfalls that should be avoided when attempting to introduce such approaches within real-world design studies.