A vehicle includes a speed detecting device provided to detect a driving speed, a pressure detecting device provided to detect a pressure applied to a brake pedal, a power information obtaining device provided to obtain power information of a power device, and a sound reproducing apparatus provided to determine whether the vehicle is in a start state or a driving state according to driving speed information detected by the speed detecting device, pressure information detected by the pressure detecting device, and the power information, control reproduction of post-combustion noise when the processor concludes that the vehicle is in the start state, control reproduction of a slip sound in response to an acceleration command or a deceleration command when the vehicle is in the driving state, and control reproduction of an acceleration sound corresponding to an acceleration force when the vehicle is accelerating in the driving state.

A vehicle includes a speed detecting device provided to detect a driving speed, a pressure detecting device provided to detect a pressure applied to a brake pedal, a power information obtaining device provided to obtain power information of a power device, and a sound reproducing apparatus provided to determine whether the vehicle is in a start state or a driving state according to driving speed information detected by the speed detecting device, pressure information detected by the pressure detecting device, and the power information, control reproduction of post-combustion noise when the processor concludes that the vehicle is in the start state, control reproduction of a slip sound in response to an acceleration command or a deceleration command when the vehicle is in the driving state, and control reproduction of an acceleration sound corresponding to an acceleration force when the vehicle is accelerating in the driving state.

A head-mounted device can effectively manage heat while also managing noise output in a manner that reduces the user's perception thereof. For example, a support member extending across a flow channel can provide multiple sections with different profiles and/or cross-sectional dimensions within the flow channel. Each of the profiles and/or cross-sectional dimensions can generate tonal noises at different frequencies, so that the tonal noises generated are distributed across multiple frequencies to mask such tonal noises among broadband noises that are generated by the head-mounted device. Such a support member can be moveably positioned within the flow channel and rigidly coupled to other components of the head-mounted device. Such a support member can also be used to draw heat away from other components of the head-mounted device to be dissipated by the flow of air within the flow channel.

A head-mounted device can effectively manage heat while also managing noise output in a manner that reduces the user's perception thereof. For example, a support member extending across a flow channel can provide multiple sections with different profiles and/or cross-sectional dimensions within the flow channel. Each of the profiles and/or cross-sectional dimensions can generate tonal noises at different frequencies, so that the tonal noises generated are distributed across multiple frequencies to mask such tonal noises among broadband noises that are generated by the head-mounted device. Such a support member can be moveably positioned within the flow channel and rigidly coupled to other components of the head-mounted device. Such a support member can also be used to draw heat away from other components of the head-mounted device to be dissipated by the flow of air within the flow channel.

An ear-worn electronic device includes a right ear device comprising a first processor and a left ear device comprising a second processor communicatively coupled to the first processor. A physiologic sensor module comprises one or more physiologic sensors configured to sense at least one physiologic parameter from a wearer. A motion sensor module comprises one or more sensors configured to sense movement of the wearer. The first and second processors are coupled to the physiologic and motion sensor modules. The first and second processors are configured to produce a three-dimensional virtual sound environment comprising relaxing sounds, generate verbal instructions within the three-dimensional virtual sound environment that guide the wearer through a predetermined mental exercise that promotes wearer relaxation, and generate verbal commentary that assesses wearer compliance with the predetermined mental exercise in response to one or both of the sensed movement and the at least one physiologic parameter.

A mobile terminal booth with a sound masking function includes a sound absorbing panel which partitions a space as viewed from the above to provide a place where a user of a mobile terminal can have a telephone conversation; a speaker provided to emit sounds to an outside of the mobile terminal booth; and a masking sound generation unit provided to emit a masking sound through the speaker. The harsh-sounding high frequency components of the masking sound are attenuated so that the masking sound gives less uncomfortable feeling to persons surrounding the mobile terminal booth. This masking sound is generated by attenuating a high frequency component of a raw sound material including a natural sound.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a noise masking method through variable masking sound level conversion, capable of adjusting an interval for changing a level of a masking sound for masking noise to an optimal interval so that the masking sound is not perceived as noise, by determining a fluctuation trend of a level of audible noise and adjusting the interval for changing the level of the masking sound for masking the noise into an optimal environment through a control unit.

An information processing device includes a first acquisition unit that acquires biological information on a user, a first judgment execution unit that executes a first judgment on whether a first discomfort condition is satisfied or not based on first discomfort condition information specifying the first discomfort condition and the biological information, a second acquisition unit that acquires a sound signal, an acoustic feature detection unit that detects an acoustic feature based on the sound signal, a second judgment execution unit that executes a second judgment on whether a second discomfort condition is satisfied or not based on second discomfort condition information specifying the second discomfort condition and the acoustic feature, and an output judgment unit that judges whether first masking sound should be outputted or not based on a result of the first judgment and a result of the second judgment.

A computer-implemented method prevents physical interference between co-located users in virtual environments. The method includes identifying a first user associated with a first virtual reality (VR) system and a second user associated with a second VR system. The method also includes predicting a future movement of the first user to perform a first task in a primary virtual environment. The method further includes identifying, in response to the predicting the future movement of the first user, a first physical space needed for the first user. The method includes determining, in response to identifying the first physical space, a likely interference in a first physical location of the first user. The method also includes preventing the likely interference.

A system and method for providing a dynamic audio environment within a vehicle that includes receiving data associated with at least one audio stream that is being played through an audio system of the vehicle. The system and method also include determining a selected vehicle mode of the vehicle. The system and method additionally include selecting at least one audio effect that is associated with the selected vehicle mode of the vehicle to alter the at least one audio stream. The system and method further include controlling at least one audio source of the vehicle to provide the at least one audio stream according to the at least one audio effect.