Creating a Multi-Dimensional Communication Space to Improve the Effectiveness of 3-D Audio

As the number of voices increases, the ability of the listener to comprehend the content of any one of the voices decreases. Current technology makes it possible to create a three-dimensional (3-D) binaural sound system using an audio headphone and a digital processor to augment the listener's ability to spatially distinguish and locate individual speakers within a communication network. True binaural spatial audio over headphones can manipulate the sound to emanate from any particular point in the virtual 3-D audio space surrounding the listener. This paper discusses several audio dimensions that can be applied to a communication network to improve the effectiveness of a 3-D binaural system, improve the listener's ability to understand what is being communicated and provide the listener with metadata regarding their situational awareness (SA).