dc.contributor.author	Thompson, Brandon Scott	en
dc.contributor.committeechair	Casali, John G.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Lee, Kichol	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Gabbard, Joseph L.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Kleiner, Brian M.	en
dc.contributor.department	Industrial and Systems Engineering	en
dc.date.accessioned	2020-06-19T08:01:04Z	en
dc.date.available	2020-06-19T08:01:04Z	en
dc.date.issued	2020-06-19	en
dc.description.abstract	Auditory situation awareness (ASA) is essential for safety and survivability in military operations where many of the hazards are not immediately visible. Unfortunately, the Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) required to operate in these environments can impede auditory localization performance. Promisingly, recent studies have exhibited the plasticity of the human auditory system by demonstrating that training can improve auditory localization ability while wearing HPDs, including military Tactical Communications and Protective Systems (TCAPS). As a result, the U.S. military identified the need for a portable system capable of imparting auditory localization acquisition skills at similar levels to those demonstrated in laboratory environments. The purpose of this investigation was to develop and validate a Portable Auditory Localization Acclimation Training (PALAT) system equipped with an improved training protocol against a proven laboratory grade system referred to as the DRILCOM system and subsequently evaluate the transfer-of-training benefit in a field environment. In Phase I, a systems decision process was used to develop a prototype PALAT system consisting of an expandable frame housing 32-loudspeakers operated by a user-controlled tablet computer capable of reproducing acoustically accurate localization cues similar to the DRILCOM system. Phase II used a within-subjects human factors experiment to validate whether the PALAT system could impart similar auditory localization training benefits as the DRILCOM system. Results showed no significant difference between the two localization training systems at each stage of training or in training rates for the open ear and with two TCAPS devices. The PALAT system also demonstrated the ability to detect differences in localization accuracy between listening conditions in the same manner as the DRILCOM system. Participant ratings indicated no perceived difference in localization training benefit but significantly preferred the PALAT system user interface which was specifically designed to improve usability features to meet requirements of a user operable system. The Phase III investigation evaluated the transfer-of-training benefit imparted by the PALAT system using a broadband stimulus to a field environment using gunshot stimulus. Training under the open ear and in-the-ear TCAPS resulted in significant differences between the trained and untrained groups from in-office pretest to in-field posttest.	en
dc.description.abstractgeneral	Auditory situation awareness (ASA) is essential for safety and survivability in military operations where many of the hazards are not immediately visible. Unfortunately, the Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) required to operate in these environments can impede sound localization performance. Promisingly, recent studies have exhibited the ability of the human auditory system to learn by demonstrating that training can improve sound localization ability while wearing HPDs. As a result, the U.S. military identified the need for a portable system capable of improving sound localization performance at similar levels to those demonstrated in laboratory environments. The purpose of this investigation was to develop and validate a Portable Auditory Localization Acclimation Training (PALAT) system equipped with an improved training protocol against a proven laboratory grade system referred to as the DRILCOM system and subsequently evaluate the transfer-of-training benefit in a field environment. In Phase I, a systems decision process was used to develop a prototype PALAT system consisting of an expandable frame housing 32-loudspeakers operated by a user-controlled tablet computer capable of reproducing similar sounds as the DRILCOM system. Phase II used a within-subjects human factors experiment to validate whether the PALAT system could impart similar sound localization training benefits as the DRILCOM system. Results showed no significant difference between the two localization training systems at each stage of training or in training rates for the open ear and with two HPDs. The PALAT system also demonstrated the ability to detect differences in localization accuracy between listening conditions in the same manner as the DRILCOM system. Participant ratings indicated no perceived difference in localization training benefit but significantly preferred the PALAT system user interface which was specifically designed to improve usability features to meet requirements of a user operable system. The Phase III investigation evaluated the transfer-of-training benefit imparted by the PALAT system using a broadband stimulus to a field environment using gunshot stimulus. Training under the open ear and in-the-ear TCAPS resulted in significant differences between the trained and untrained groups from in-office pretest to in-field posttest.	en
dc.description.degree	Doctor of Philosophy	en
dc.format.medium	ETD	en
dc.identifier.other	vt_gsexam:25817	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/99050	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	Auditory Localization	en
dc.subject	Auditory Situation Awareness	en
dc.subject	Auditory Training	en
dc.subject	Hearing Protection	en
dc.title	Development and Human Factors Evaluation of a Portable Auditory Localization Acclimation Training System	en
dc.type	Dissertation	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Industrial and Systems Engineering	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	doctoral	en
thesis.degree.name	Doctor of Philosophy	en

Development and Human Factors Evaluation of a Portable Auditory Localization Acclimation Training System

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