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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Evaluating Usability Aspects of a Mixed Reality Solution for Immersive Analytics in Industry 4.0 Scenarios
Published on: October 6, 2020
A grounded study in user preference for immersive sound in extended reality environments
Christopher S W Anderson1, Miles Thorogood1
1Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, University of British Columbia, 1148 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7 Canada.
Abstract:
Spatialized sound is crucial for immersive and extended reality experiences. We conducted a user study comparing the built-in audio of a commercially available VR headset with a physical loudspeaker dispersion systems. Our study demonstrates participants have a greater sense of immersion, realism, and localization phenomena when experiencing the physical loudspeaker dispersion over the built in headset. A subsequent preference test and qualitative feedback revealed a strong trend favoring the both high-end and entry-level loudspeaker systems. This work provides valuable insights for designing more immersive extended reality experiences.
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