Sonic design space

The physical medium related to human hearing through which a user and device may interact. The sonic design space encompasses speech (both natural and synthesised), non-speech audio such as earcons and sonification, music, and environmental sounds. For many users of assistive technology, the sonic design space is the primary channel for receiving information — screen readers convert visual content to speech, and auditory cues replace visual indicators. The sonic design space has unique constraints compared to visual: audio is inherently temporal (it unfolds over time and cannot be scanned at a glance), it is difficult to present multiple audio streams simultaneously without confusion, and it is affected by environmental noise. These constraints directly shape how accessible interfaces must be designed.