Layered software architecture for designing environmental sounds in non-visual interfaces

This paper presents a partially implemented layered software architecture for describing and designing environmental sounds (everyday sounds) in non visual interfaces based on a new sound model (audio framework). This architecture facilitates non-speech audio presentation of objects and interaction mechanisms to non visual interfaces. Physical layer, system sound software layer, sound analyser/synthesiser layer and interface layer define the different layers of this new architecture. The suggested sound model (audio framework) can be used as a basis for the description and design of environmental sounds in non visual interfaces. This paper will describe its different components: physical modelling, interaction, context sensitivity, and metaphorical description. The term audio framework will be used ultimately for the presented sound model. This paper will first give an introduction to the background on the use of computers by blind operators and the development of graphical user interfaces and their impact on this group of computer users, the use of sounds in CAL applications for visually impaired users and two examples for adaptation of GUIS for blind computer users, existing approaches for modelling environmental sounds, and then presents the new audio framework and its implementation in a layered software architecture. Finally some implemented sounds are discussed.