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Page 1 of 11 Sonic Trainer Software Guide
Version 2
Sonic Trainer is Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training software for the blind designed to help students learn to identify, localize, and track 3-D sound sources around them. The Sonic Trainer software automatically collects student performance data, and provides skill building and 3-D listening evaluation capabilities.
Introduction to Sonic Trainer:
Welcome to the ORI Applied Computer Simulation Labs' Sonic Trainer software. Sonic Trainer is an advanced simulation program designed to help Orientation and Mobility Training Specialists teach blind and vision impaired students how to identify, localize, and track sounds. Sonic Trainer is comprised of two software modes: SonicSkills and SonicEvaluation. The SonicSkills mode of the software provides "skill-building" program that allows a trainer to activate, move, and position sounds around the student. The SonicEvaluation mode of the software is an assessment and evaluation program, designed to work with SonicSkills, to measure a student's ability to identify, localize, and track various sound sources presented in the Sonic Trainer simulation environment.
The Sonic Trainer software takes advantage of the computer's ability to create a 3-D audio spatial illusion. By using a special 3-D sound card and software, the computer can present sound sources that appear to be moving, or emanating from various positions around the listener's head. This allows the listener to hear sounds much like they sound in a real space, so a sound can appear to come from above, behind, or in any spherical position around the listener. These sounds can also be animated, so, for example, the sound of a vehicle driving past could appear to change its position while a helicopter flies overhead. The potential for this remarkable technology has just begun to be investigated, and the Sonic Trainer software is one of the first applications for this technology designed specifically to help teach OM skills. All that is required is a Windows based personal computer equipped with the requisite hardware, and a pair of headphones.
The Sonic Trainer software is currently part of a research grant funded by US Department of Education. This software is free, but if you use it we ask that you contact us so we may track its usage. The goal of this research is to determine the effectiveness of using simulation software and virtual reality technology to assist Orientation and Mobility (OM) training personnel with teaching OM skills to blind, and vision impaired students.
The Sonic Trainer software is developed by the Oregon Research Institute Applied Computer Simulation Labs. Our address and contact information are shown below.
Oregon Research Institute
Applied Computer Simulation Labs
1715 Franklin Blvd.
Eugene, OR 97403-1983
http://simlabs.ori.org
If you have any questions about how to use the Sonic Trainer software, or if you're having trouble getting the software to function, please contact http://simlabs.ori.org/contact.
Hardware:
- 1 GHz (or faster) AMD or Intel processor.
- 1 GB RAM (or more).
- Creative Labs Audigy series 3-D Sound Card.
- NVidia FX series or better recommended.
- An InterSense InterTrax2 head tracker with 3 Degrees-of-Freedom.
- External stereo speakers.
- A headphone distribution amplifier such as the Rolls HA43.
- 2 or more good quality headphones.
Software:
- Windows XP, or Vista.
- DirectX 10.
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