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alexanderj
Up and Coming
May 30, 2013

Positional Tracking with desktop sound & headset

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to put this out there in the case this is feasible.

Positional Tracking on X-axis (horizontal space only) using Stereo Speakers or Surround Sound. (Sonar?)

I know that everyone is working with different equipment, but I believe that it's possible to get around that with the software. Sound supposedly travels at ~343m/s at 68F and impedance and wiring would make minute readings that probably wouldn't match sounds coming from opposite speakers but that particularity should be no problem with proper calibration.

If the speakers are stationary then theoretically positions (with different distances from User) of the speakers would not be a priority. Calibration should be simple.

If someone can get a mock-up of a program that is scalable to different configurations it could be worth messing around with. We could have a cheap and effective way to track position using hardware we already have installed.

    8 replies

    geekmaster
    Up and Coming
    May 30, 2013
    Microsoft calls their (microphone and speakers only) "Kinect-like" doppler gesture recognition software "SoundWave":
    http://www.extremetech.com/computing/128735-microsoft-creates-kinect-like-system-using-your-laptops-built-in-speaker-microphone
    The software is free, and here is a direct link to the downloadable video:
    http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/cue/video/SoundWave_CHI2012.mp4

    And there is a similar project, also with free software, here:
    http://empathicsystems.org/
    http://stevetarzia.com/sonar/
    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
    alexanderjAuthor
    Up and Coming
    May 30, 2013
    You are amazing. Thanks, man - I'm excited to see if it can work when I get my hands on it...
    geekmaster
    Up and Coming
    May 30, 2013
    "alexanderj" wrote:
    You are amazing.

    Thanks. I get that a lot. Even in real life.
    ...
    Anyway, I greatly appreciate the friendly compliment. That is the kind of compensation that keeps me sharing my ideas and contributions.
    ;)
    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
    cybereality
    Inspiring
    May 30, 2013
    The Nintendo PowerGlove worked off a similar principle using ultra-sonic speakers and mics.

    There was also the Logitech 3D Headtracker from the 90's that used sound as well (but to a much higher accuracy than the PowerGlove).

    So the idea is sound (pun intended).
    AMD Ryzen 7 1800X | MSI X370 Titanium | G.Skill 16GB DDR4 3200 | EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 | Corsair Hydro H110i Gigabyte RX Vega 64 x2 | Samsung 960 Evo M.2 500GB | Seagate FireCuda SSHD 2TB | Phanteks ENTHOO EVOLV
    geekmaster
    Up and Coming
    May 31, 2013
    cybereality is amazing too. ;)

    I still have a box full of those Power Gloves...
    DuinoGlove.jpgBut only Palmer Luckey has the T-shirt. :lol:
    PalmerGlove.jpg
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    alexanderjAuthor
    Up and Coming
    May 31, 2013
    That is incredible I had no idea it was already being used like that.

    If this does work with a normal setup maybe it could allow everyone who wants to "lean" forward to get that movement in-game as well, considering the small office space environment that most people will probably have their computers setup in.

    Using hardware we already have at home will make it damn easy to increase adoption rate

    ...I saw your post, geekmaster! Just don't get burned out on office code, man. I'll be watching for your work here on the forums...
    geekmaster
    Up and Coming
    May 31, 2013
    If you like seeing with sound, check out the flip-side:
    http://www.seeingwithsound.com/

    I played with that stuff back in the mid 90's, and it was pretty darned awesome back then (and it still is). I am glad to see that website survived (it was originally on CompuServe, as I recall)...

    This sounds like R2D2's native language:







    You really need headphones to hear those videos properly, but at least position your speakers correctly.

    With a little practice, you can develop the synesthesia (biological sensor fusion) to actually SEE those sound pictures with your eyes closed. Reading the simple words in the first video takes almost no practice. And that last video is pretty darned cool, IMHO.

    Sometimes it is worth studying both sides of the same coin.

    Actually, this might be kind of fun to use in a game, for "low visibility" portions of game play (when the smoke gets in your eyes).

    Enjoy! :D
    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
    KuraIthys
    Up and Coming
    June 5, 2013
    "geekmaster" wrote:
    "alexanderj" wrote:
    You are amazing.

    Thanks. I get that a lot. Even in real life.
    ...
    Anyway, I greatly appreciate the friendly compliment. That is the kind of compensation that keeps me sharing my ideas and contributions.
    ;)


    Well, you are. :D

    Oddly though, people tell me things like that too. But all it does for me is make me feel weird, because I don't actually feel like I'm good at anything. So, uh... Yeah. Self-confidence? What's that?

    Anyway... Uh, what was I...?

    Uhm... I've forgotten now. >_<
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