Visual and auditory localization as a function of azimuth and elevation

This study was performed to investigate the accuracy of performing a localization task as a function of the use of three display formats: auditory, perspective, and combined perspective-auditory. The experimental task for the perspective and perspective-auditory displays was to judge the relative azimuth and elevation that separated a computer-generated target object from a reference object. The experimental task for the auditory display was to determine the azimuth and elevation of a sound source with respect to the listener. For azimuth estimates, there was a significant effect for type of display, with worse performance resulting from the purely auditory format. Further, azimuth judgments were better for target objects that were aligned close to the major meridian orthogonal to the viewing vector. For elevation errors, there was a main effect for the type of display with worst performance for the purely auditory condition; elevation judgments were worse for larger elevation separations independent of display condition. Finally, elevation performance was superior when target images were aligned close to the major meridian orthogonal to the viewing vector. Implications of the results for the design of spatial instruments is discussed.