3D Audio

Audio technology that creates the perception of sound sources positioned in three-dimensional space around the listener, including above, below, and at varying distances. 3D audio uses head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), interaural time differences, and distance-based volume attenuation to simulate how sound behaves in physical space. In accessibility, 3D audio is a critical tool for conveying spatial information to people with visual impairments — in navigation aids, it can indicate the direction and distance of landmarks, and in video games, it enables blind players to locate objects, understand room layouts, and orient themselves within virtual environments. The effectiveness of 3D audio for spatial awareness depends on the listener's headphone quality and individual differences in spatial hearing.