EARS - Enhanced Auditory Reality Scout

Purpose and goal:

The project´s objective is to investigate and demonstrate how headphone-based 3D sound can increase accessibility and individual user experience of shared mobility services in urban environments, with the aim of increasing traffic safety, efficiency and utilization rate of these services regardless of age, gender or physical ability.

Expected results and effects:

The project will contribute to FFI´s impact goals through increased sustainability, safety, efficiency, inclusion and competence development for new mobility services. By developing and testing new ways of interacting with today´s and future´s shared, combined, and autonomous mobility services, the goal is to make these more user-friendly for everyone, with a specific focus on groups with disabilities. This is expected to contribute to increased acceptance of the services, and thus increased use.

Approach and implementation:

The project is implemented in work packages (WP). WP1 is project management. WP2 focuses on specifying user scenarios, exploring user needs and defining challenges.

Identified needs and challenges guide concept development and technology development in WP3 (sound design) and AP4 (system architecture). WP5 further develops the concepts into interactive technical prototypes. These prototypes then undergo an extensive evaluation process where they are tested with users and feedback is obtained from accessibility experts (WP6). Results from the project are disseminated in WP7.