Dissertation in the field of Acoustics and audio signal processing, Olli Rummukainen
The title of thesis is ”Reproducing reality: Perception and quality in immersive audiovisual environments”.
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Traditionally, when developing technologies for virtual reality or evaluating their quality, the visual and auditory perception have been considered separately. Based on the research in this thesis, this approach is not sufficient anymore, and the interplay of the senses has to be taken into account. In quality evaluation, understanding the quality of experience should be emphasized over the technically defined signal fidelity. With regards to advancing research methodology, great value is seen in virtual reality's capabilities in creating life-like experimental setups.
Novel spatial sound reproduction technology developed at Aalto University has been applied in this thesis in combination with a surrounding visual display to create immersive experiences mimicking the real world. The aim of this thesis is to identify the perceptually most important aspects of the reality surrounding us, and the impact of technical reproduction parameters on these perceptual aspects, and on the perceived quality. In addition, a novel theory for evaluating the quality of virtual reality technology based on quantifying the differences in human behavior in the reality and in a virtual world has been developed.
Currently, technologies for virtual reality are advancing rapidly, and the novel technologies enable us to study the human brain more accurately than ever before. At the same time this new information helps us to create more realistic virtual experiences. This thesis joins this discussion at a critical point in time when the standards for technology and quality evaluation are being created.
Opponent: Professor Alexander Raake, Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany
Supervisor: Professor Ville Pulkki, Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering, Department of Signal Processing and Acoustics
Contact information:
Olli Rummukainen
+49 157 30225465
olli.rummukainen@gmail.com