Sound Localization

Sound localization is the ability to tell the direction from which a sound is originating. When sound localization ability is low, it affects a person's safe interaction in an environment. Lack of sound localization ability can influence safe movement in public spaces. If a person cannot tell the direction of an approaching vehicle, with or without accompanying horn or siren, it may lead to fatal consequences.

Sound localization is important when interacting with products that warn the user and indicate their location by using sound output. People with low sound localization ability cannot tell that it is their own watch or reminder alarming and may miss, for example, a reminder to take medication. Hence, such products need to indicate in other ways to the user that it is a given time. People with loss of this ability also have trouble with their mobile phone, as they cannot tell that it is their own phone that is ringing. For other products in a home or office environment, it might be difficult to identify which appliance is giving sound output when a few appliances are sounding at the same time.