Outputs (35)

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.

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.

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 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.

FASS: Firefighter Audio Safety Systems (2023)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Elliot, A., & McGregor, I. (2023, August). FASS: Firefighter Audio Safety Systems. Presented at AM '23: Audio Mostly 2023, Edinburgh

A series of auditory cues were designed to assist firefighters with navigation and general safety in a fire emergency. Firefighters must maintain situational awareness at all times and this can be lost with disorientation, which is one of the main ca... Read More about FASS: Firefighter Audio Safety Systems.

Towards a Framework of Aesthetics in Sonic Interaction (2023)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Cunningham, S., McGregor, I., Weinel, J., Darby, J., & Stockman, T. (2023, August). Towards a Framework of Aesthetics in Sonic Interaction. Presented at AM '23: Audio Mostly 2023, Edinburgh

As interaction design has advanced, increased attention has been directed to the role that aesthetics play in shaping factors of user experience. Historically stemming from philosophy and the arts, aesthetics in interaction design has gravitated towa... Read More about Towards a Framework of Aesthetics in Sonic Interaction.

Proceedings of the 18th International Audio Mostly Conference (2023)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
(2023, August). Proceedings of the 18th International Audio Mostly Conference. Presented at AM '23: Audio Mostly 2023, Edinburgh

Audio Mostly is an interdisciplinary conference on design and experience of interaction with sound that prides itself on embracing applied theory and reflective practice. Its annual gatherings bring together thinkers and doers from academia and indus... Read More about Proceedings of the 18th International Audio Mostly Conference.

Practices and educational affordances of sound in the postcolonial Hong Kong protests (2023)
Journal Article
Cheng, L., & McGregor, I. (online). Practices and educational affordances of sound in the postcolonial Hong Kong protests. Contemporary Music Review, https://doi.org/10.1080/07494467.2023.2241236

Sound has been theorised for its functional role as informative agent in political advocacy and participation in political studies, yet the investigation on the pedagogical potential has been largely absent. This paper examines the pedagogical impact... Read More about Practices and educational affordances of sound in the postcolonial Hong Kong protests.

Sonification of Exosolar System Accretion Discs (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Quinton, M., McGregor, I., & Benyon, D. (2021, June). Sonification of Exosolar System Accretion Discs. Presented at The 26th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2021), Online

This study investigated the design and evaluation of a sonification, created for an astronomer who studies exosolar accretion discs. User design methods were applied to sonify data that could allow the classification of accretion discs. The sonificat... Read More about Sonification of Exosolar System Accretion Discs.

Sound Design (2020)
Book
McGregor, I. (2020). Sound Design. (3rd)

This book explores the underlying principles of sound design for linear and interactive media, and specifically how they apply to theatre, radio and film. The focus of the text is about how to design effective sound so that audiences' experiences are... Read More about Sound Design.

Designing Sound for Robots: An In-depth Guide to Great Robot Sound Design (2019)
Digital Artefact
McGregor, I. (2019). Designing Sound for Robots: An In-depth Guide to Great Robot Sound Design. [Blog]

From robotic lawnmowers and autonomous vacuum cleaners, to interactive toys and personal assistants, robots are becoming an ever-growing part of our personal and professional lives - and what they sound like has a profound impact on how we perceive,... Read More about Designing Sound for Robots: An In-depth Guide to Great Robot Sound Design.

Designing vehicle sounds (2018)
Digital Artefact
McGregor, I. (2018). Designing vehicle sounds. [Website]

Sound is intrinsically linked to vehicles, drivers use it to monitor their actions and vehicle mechanical condition. Pedestrians and other road users rely on sound to prevent accidents. Motoring authorities in the EU, Japan and USA are concerned abou... Read More about Designing vehicle sounds.

Exploring Musical Creativity through Interactive Cymatics (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
McGowan, J., Leplatre, G., & McGregor, I. (2017, July). Exploring Musical Creativity through Interactive Cymatics. Presented at HCI 2017 - Digital make-believe, Sunderland, UK

What does music look like? Representation of sound has taken many forms over time, from sinusoidal wave patterns, through to random algorithm-based visualisations based on the amplitude of an audio signal. One aspect of music visualisation that has n... Read More about Exploring Musical Creativity through Interactive Cymatics.

Sound and the Internet of Things (2017)
Digital Artefact
McGregor, I. (2017). Sound and the Internet of Things. [Blog]

Sound has enormous potential to enhance how we experience and interact with the connected everyday devices and appliances that make up the Internet of Things.

Dr Iain McGregor - programme leader for the online MSc in Sound design at Edinburgh Napi... Read More about Sound and the Internet of Things.

Listening loudspeakers: a quieter and more intelligible world (2017)
Digital Artefact
McGregor, I. (2017). Listening loudspeakers: a quieter and more intelligible world. [Website]

Loudspeakers can now truly be described as ubiquitous, being part of many portable and fixed technologies. They are an important part of everyday life, providing both entertainment and essential information. Unfortunately, growth in utilisation has... Read More about Listening loudspeakers: a quieter and more intelligible world.

To uncover the secrets of exoplanets, try listening to them (2016)
Digital Artefact
Quinton, M., Benyon, D., & McGregor, I. (2016). To uncover the secrets of exoplanets, try listening to them. [Website]

From rainfall patterns to share price performance, the usual way to analyse any data that shows something changing over a period of time is to put it into a graphic. Making data visual usually makes it much easier to understand the trends – but not a... Read More about To uncover the secrets of exoplanets, try listening to them.