All Outputs (111)

Library of Inspiration: Engaging Young Minds (2025)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Cathro, S., Stewart, F., Darzentas, D., Mcgregor, I., & Donald, I. (2025, June). Library of Inspiration: Engaging Young Minds. Presented at Interaction Design and Children (IDC) Conference 2025, Reykjavík, Iceland

This demo showcases the Library of Inspiration, an initiative making STEM learning more accessible, engaging, and inclusive, particularly for underrepresented children. Freely available, take-home technology kits distributed via school libraries, ena... Read More about Library of Inspiration: Engaging Young Minds.

Perceptually Aware Communication in High-Risk Environments: A Conceptual Framework (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). Perceptually Aware Communication in High-Risk Environments: A Conceptual Framework. Edinburgh Napier University

This paper presents a conceptual framework for perceptually optimised audio communication in high-risk and acoustically challenging environments. Drawing on principles from sound design, auditory ergonomics, and professional communication systems, th... Read More about Perceptually Aware Communication in High-Risk Environments: A Conceptual Framework.

Adaptive Sound Ethics Framework: Consent, Tone, and Respect in Feedback Design (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). Adaptive Sound Ethics Framework: Consent, Tone, and Respect in Feedback Design. Geneva, Switzerland (Zenodo is hosted by CERN): Edinburgh Napier University

This technical report outlines an ethical framework for adaptive sound feedback systems grounded in behavioural consent, emotional tone sensitivity, and user autonomy. It introduces novel concepts including passive consent loops, quiet mode, tone mis... Read More about Adaptive Sound Ethics Framework: Consent, Tone, and Respect in Feedback Design.

The Auditory Contract: Designing Trustworthy Sound in IoT (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). The Auditory Contract: Designing Trustworthy Sound in IoT

This technical report introduces the concept of the auditory contract, the unspoken agreement between users and smart devices to interpret sound as meaningful and trustworthy. It proposes ten practical guidelines for designing sound in the Internet o... Read More about The Auditory Contract: Designing Trustworthy Sound in IoT.

Stethoscope 2.0: How Everyday Devices Could Help Doctors Listen Differently (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). Stethoscope 2.0: How Everyday Devices Could Help Doctors Listen Differently

Traditional diagnostic tools like the stethoscope have long helped clinicians detect signs of illness through direct contact and active listening. In an era of ubiquitous sensing, the diagnostic potential of devices already in common use, smartphones... Read More about Stethoscope 2.0: How Everyday Devices Could Help Doctors Listen Differently.

Stabilising Sound: A Perceptual Audio Framework for Balance Support Inspired by Vestibular Stimulation (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). Stabilising Sound: A Perceptual Audio Framework for Balance Support Inspired by Vestibular Stimulation. Edinburgh Napier University

This note outlines a proposal for a perceptual audio system that may help stabilise balance and reduce fall risk using low-frequency sound cues delivered through everyday listening devices. It is inspired by recent findings showing that 100 Hz audito... Read More about Stabilising Sound: A Perceptual Audio Framework for Balance Support Inspired by Vestibular Stimulation.

Perceptually Adaptive Alarm Systems Using Doppler-Based Pitch Modulation (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). Perceptually Adaptive Alarm Systems Using Doppler-Based Pitch Modulation. Edinburgh Napier University

This technical note presents a novel alarm system design that uses Doppler-based pitch and amplitude modulation to help people better understand emergency situations through sound alone. By embedding intuitive rising and falling pitch cues into famil... Read More about Perceptually Adaptive Alarm Systems Using Doppler-Based Pitch Modulation.

Sound Dominates, We Just Forgot to Listen (2025)
Other
McGregor, I. (2025). Sound Dominates, We Just Forgot to Listen

This public commentary explores the under-recognised role of sound in perception, memory, protest, and shared space. Challenging the assumption that humans are primarily visual beings, the piece argues that sound is more immediate, socially shared, a... Read More about Sound Dominates, We Just Forgot to Listen.

Perceptual Calibration and Passive Adaptation in Under-Pillow Audio Systems for Sleep and Care Environments (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). Perceptual Calibration and Passive Adaptation in Under-Pillow Audio Systems for Sleep and Care Environments

This technical report outlines a perceptually grounded calibration model for under-pillow and near-field audio systems. The approach enables real-time tuning based on how sound is actually perceived through materials like foam and fabric. It supports... Read More about Perceptual Calibration and Passive Adaptation in Under-Pillow Audio Systems for Sleep and Care Environments.

Perceptually Adaptive Multi-Microphone Audio System for Inclusive Group Communication and Environmental Awareness (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). Perceptually Adaptive Multi-Microphone Audio System for Inclusive Group Communication and Environmental Awareness. Applied Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University

This system proposes a perceptually grounded, user-behaviour-adaptive audio enhancement architecture that supports clarity, spatial stability, and inclusive listening in complex environments. Leveraging a triangulated microphone array (left ear, righ... Read More about Perceptually Adaptive Multi-Microphone Audio System for Inclusive Group Communication and Environmental Awareness.

Perceptually Adaptive Speech Clarity System for Reverberant Environments (2025)
Report
McGregor, I. (2025). Perceptually Adaptive Speech Clarity System for Reverberant Environments. Not commissioned – self-initiated research and disclosure

This document outlines a perceptually adaptive audio system designed to improve the intelligibility of spoken announcements in highly reverberant environments. Using speech buffering, pacing modification, spectral shaping, and real-time feedback, the... Read More about Perceptually Adaptive Speech Clarity System for Reverberant Environments.

A Perceptual Approach to HRTF Personalisation: From Localisation to Spatial Literacy (2025)
Report
Mcgregor, I. (2025). A Perceptual Approach to HRTF Personalisation: From Localisation to Spatial Literacy

Efforts to personalise Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) have traditionally focused on anatomical accuracy, modelling the head, ears and torso to predict how sound should reach an individual’s ears. While valuable, such approaches often require... Read More about A Perceptual Approach to HRTF Personalisation: From Localisation to Spatial Literacy.

360 VSP: Issues and limitations of 360 Virtual Sound Productions for mobile devices (2025)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Di Donato, B., Rieger, M., & McGregor, I. (2025, July). 360 VSP: Issues and limitations of 360 Virtual Sound Productions for mobile devices. Presented at Audio Mostly 2025, Coimbra, Portugal

This paper explores challenges in designing sound pipelines for cross-platform 360-degree video. Virtual Production companies face issues ensuring spatial audio compatibility across devices. Collaborating with a sound expert, we developed a prototype... Read More about 360 VSP: Issues and limitations of 360 Virtual Sound Productions for mobile devices.

PEMS: Peoples Experience Of Mountain Soundscapes (2025)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Donato, B. D., & Mcgregor, I. (2025, June). PEMS: Peoples Experience Of Mountain Soundscapes. Presented at Forum Acusticum / Euronoise 2025: 11th Convention of the European Acoustics Association, Málaga, Spain

This study investigates the role of soundscapes in mountain environments, focusing on their contributions to safety, navigation, and environmental understanding. A survey of 219 participants from 27 countries, primarily experienced mountaineers with... Read More about PEMS: Peoples Experience Of Mountain Soundscapes.

Audio Occlusion Experiment Data (2025)
Data
McSeveney, S., Tamariz, M., McGregor, I., Koniaris, B., & Mitchell, K. (2025). Audio Occlusion Experiment Data. [Data]

This dataset comprises anonymous user study participant responses of audio occlusion to investigate presence response of body occlusions in the presence of sound sources in the direct path between the person and the audio driver speaker.

Podcasting the archive: An evaluation of audience engagement with a narrative non-fiction podcast series (2024)
Journal Article
Ryan, B., Hall, H., Wilson, M., & McGregor, I. (2024). Podcasting the archive: An evaluation of audience engagement with a narrative non-fiction podcast series. Archives: The Journal of the British Records Association, 58(2), 123-153. https://doi.org/10.3828/archives.2024.3

The purpose of the empirical work discussed in this paper was to explore the theme of audience engagement with digitised archive data in different formats. A comparison is drawn between experiences of interacting with an archive presented as a narrat... Read More about Podcasting the archive: An evaluation of audience engagement with a narrative non-fiction podcast series.

Co-Designing Technology Kits for the Library of Inspiration (2024)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Zeller, F., McGregor, I., Donald, I., Wagner, H., & Darzentas, D. (2024, November). Co-Designing Technology Kits for the Library of Inspiration. Presented at The 5th Barcelona Conference on Education (BCE2024), Barcelona, Spain

This study employs a co-design approach with students, library staff, and teachers to create technology kits for secondary school libraries, aimed at fostering interest in STEM careers among underrepresented groups such as girls, young carers, and st... Read More about Co-Designing Technology Kits for the Library of Inspiration.

Pedagogical Approaches in Music and Audio Education for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students (2024)
Journal Article
Cheng, L., & Mcgregor, I. (2024). Pedagogical Approaches in Music and Audio Education for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students. Organised Sound, 29(2), 188-196. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1355771824000074

Learning about music, sound or audio can present significant challenges for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). Given the advancements in technology and the increasing emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in education,... Read More about Pedagogical Approaches in Music and Audio Education for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students.

Auditory Occlusion Based on the Human Body in the Direct Sound Path: Measured and Perceivable Effects (2024)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
McSeveney, S., Tamariz, M., McGregor, I., Koniaris, B., & Mitchell, K. (2024, September). Auditory Occlusion Based on the Human Body in the Direct Sound Path: Measured and Perceivable Effects. Presented at Audio Mostly 2024 - Explorations in Sonic Cultures, Milan, Italy

Audio plays a key role in the sense of immersion and presence in VR, as it correlates to improved enjoyment of content. We share results of a perception study on the ability of listeners to recognise auditory occlusion due to the presence of a human... Read More about Auditory Occlusion Based on the Human Body in the Direct Sound Path: Measured and Perceivable Effects.

Capturing Film Mixers’ Workflows (2024)
Journal Article
Shalabi, A., & McGregor, I. (2024). Capturing Film Mixers’ Workflows. Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, 72(9),

Cinema being a controlled medium can offer stakeholders reassurance and a certain level of predictability in terms of soundtrack reproduction. The television and streaming suite of standards and delivery specifications have been developed in order to... Read More about Capturing Film Mixers’ Workflows.