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Non-speech audio output

For non-speech output four main categories may be identified. Because in the recent literature the same terms are often used in different ways, first the definitions of the terms used in this report will be presented.

Auditory Icon
Everyday sounds that convey information about events in the computer or in remote environment by analogy with everyday sound-producing events [118].
Example:
Earcons
Tone-based symbol sets, wherein the verbal language is replaced with combinations of pitch and rhythmic structures each of which denotes something in the data or computer environment. They have language-like characteristics of rules and internal references [26].
Abstract, synthetic tones that can be used in structured combinations to create sound messages to represent parts of an interface [42].

Example:

Sonification
Use of data to control a sound generator for the purpose of monitoring and the analysis of data.
Examples:
Audification
A direct translation of a data waveform to the audible domain for the purpose of monitoring an comprehension.
Example:


Esprit Project 8579/MIAMI (Schomaker et al., '95)
Thu May 18 16:00:17 MET DST 1995