Build a training interface to install the bat's echolocation skills in humans

TL;DR

This paper presents a new training system for human echolocation using eye-tracking and simulated echoes, aiming to enhance spatial perception skills in sighted individuals.

Contribution

It introduces a novel training interface that combines eye-tracking with virtual echoes to facilitate learning echolocation in humans.

Findings

Participants focused gaze on target edges during shape identification.

Preliminary results suggest potential for training human echolocation skills.

System enables real-time echo presentation based on eye movements.

Abstract

Bats use a sophisticated ultrasonic sensing method called echolocation to recognize the environment. Recently, it has been reported that sighted human participants with no prior experience in echolocation can improve their ability to perceive the spatial layout of various environments through training to listen to echoes (Norman, et al., 2021). In this study, we developed the new training system for human echolocation using the eye-tracker. Binaural echoes of consecutive downward linear FM pulses that were inspired by feeding strategies of echolocating bats were simulated using the wave equation finite difference time domain method. The virtual echoes were presented to the sighted subject in response to his or her eye movements on the monitor. The latency from eye gazing to the echo presentation wasn't audible delay to perceive. In a preliminary experiment in which the participants were asked to identify the shapes of the hidden target, the participants were found to concentrate their gaze on the edges of the hidden target on the monitor. We will conduct a psycho-acoustical experiment to examine the learning process of human echolocation in a shape-identification task, which will lead to device development in the field of welfare engineering.