Reverberation divergence in VR applications

This project aimed to investigate the correlationbetween virtual reality (VR) imagery and ambisonic sound. Withthe increasing popularity of VR applications, understanding howsound is perceived in virtual environments is crucial forenhancing the immersiveness of the experience.In the experiment, participants were immersed in a virtualenvironment that replicated a concert hall. Their task was toassess the correspondence between sound scenes (which differedin reverberation times and their characteristics) and the observedinvariant visual scene. The research was conducted using pairedtests. Participants were asked to identify the sound scene theyconsidered more closely matched the concert hall seen in the VRgoggles for each pair. Each sound scene differed in the employedimpulse response. All the impulse responses were recorded in realvenues such as concert halls, auditoriums, churches, etc. Toprovide a realistic auditory experience, the sound scenes wereprocessed using third-order ambisonics and decoded usingbinaural techniques with HRTFs. The virtual concert hall wasgenerated using the Unreal Engine and was the same for all thetests.One of the major conclusions drawn from the conductedresearch was confirming the role of spatial sound in creatingimmersive VR experiences. The study demonstrated thatappropriately matching spatial sound to the VR visual scene isessential for achieving complete immersion. Additionally,expectations and preferences regarding reverberationcharacteristics in different types of spaces were discovered. Thesefindings have significant implications for the design of virtualenvironments, and understanding these aspects can contribute toimproving VR technology and creating more immersive andrealistic virtual experiences for users

English Language Learning Employing Developments in Multimedia IS

In the realm of the development of information systems related to education, integrating multimedia technologies offers novel ways to enhance foreign language learning. This study investigates audio-video processing methods that leverage real-time speech rate adjustment and dynamic captioning to support English language acquisition. Through a mixed-methods analysis involving participants from a language school, we explore the impact of auditory, visual, and bimodal input enhancements on learning outcomes. Results reveal that visual enhancements, especially caption highlighting, significantly enhance vocabulary acquisition and pronunciation, whereas simultaneous auditory-visual modifications show less advantage. Overall findings suggest that multimedia-enhanced environments, particularly those emphasizing visual input, can substantially improve language learning efficiency. This research contributes to Information Systems (IS) development education by proposing practical tools and strategies for embedding multimedia content in e-learning, thereby addressing the diverse needs of students in the digital era

Reverberation divergence in VR applications

This project aimed to investigate the correlation between virtual reality (VR) imagery and ambisonic sound. With the increasing popularity of VR applications, understanding how sound is perceived in virtual environments is crucial for enhancing the immersiveness of the experience. In the experiment, participants were immersed in a virtual environment that replicated a concert hall. Their task was to assess the correspondence between sound scenes (which differed in reverberation times and their characteristics) and the observed invariant visual scene. The research was conducted using paired tests. Participants were asked to identify the sound scene they considered more closely matched the concert hall seen in the VR goggles for each pair. Each sound scene differed in the employed impulse response. All the impulse responses were recorded in real venues such as concert halls, auditoriums, churches, etc. To provide a realistic auditory experience, the sound scenes were processed using third-order ambisonics and decoded using binaural techniques with HRTFs. The virtual concert hall was generated using the Unreal Engine and was the same for all the tests. One of the major conclusions drawn from the conducted research was confirming the role of spatial sound in creating immersive VR experiences. The study demonstrated that appropriately matching spatial sound to the VR visual scene is essential for achieving complete immersion. Additionally, expectations and preferences regarding reverberation characteristics in different types of spaces were discovered. These findings have significant implications for the design of virtual environments, and understanding these aspects can contribute to improving VR technology and creating more immersive and realistic virtual experiences for users

Novel Bradykinin Analogues Modified in the N-Terminal Part of the Molecule with a Variety of Acyl Substituents

In the current work we present some pharmacological characteristics of ten new analogues of bradykinin (Arg–Pro–Pro–Gly–Phe–Ser–Pro–Phe–Arg) modified in the N-terminal part of the molecule with a variety of acyl substituents. Of the many acylating agents used previously with B2 receptor antagonists, the following residues were chosen: 1-adamantaneacetic acid (Aaa), 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid (Aca), 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid (t-Bba), 4-aminobenzoic acid (Aba), 12-aminododecanoic acid (Adc), succinic acid (Sua), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. Biological activity of the compounds was assessed in the in vivo rat blood pressure test and the in vitro rat uterus test. Surprisingly, N-terminal substitution of the bradykinin peptide chain itself with aforementioned groups resulted in antagonists of bradykinin in the pressor test and suppressed agonistic potency in the uterotonic test. These interesting findings need further studies as they can be helpful for designing more potent B2 receptor blockers

Determination Of Subjective Tinnitus Characteristics By Means Of Sound Synthesis Controlled By The Touch Screen Interface

Presented at the 19th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD2013) on July 6-9, 2013 in Lodz, Poland.Determination of Tinnitus (defined as a phantom auditory sensation) characteristics concerning sound type, level, bandwidth or frequency are one of the steps in the measurement protocol. A novel technique to measure Tinnitus parameters is proposed. It is based on a computer application designed as an auditory display for easier identification of the perceived Tinnitus. The proposed method utilizes sound synthesis employing a special graphical user interface to facilitate sound generation and identification. The method was verified during preliminary tests organized with participation of people suffering from Tinnitus and compared with the classical audiometry-based measurements. The obtained results are presented and discussed in the paper