Avoid the use of audio?: evaluating the influence of sound in a large display multi-user scenario

Today's interactive wall displays are large enough to accommodate two or more simultaneously interacting users. Multiple users might retrieve multimedia content from public information screens at the same time, either together or in parallel without interfering with each other. We conducted two lab studies on the influence of sound in a multi-user scenario. In our first lab study we simultaneously showed two different videos with audio and measured the objective and subjective information perception. This was compared to both participants reading text. While the objective information perception remained similar, the subjective information perception decreased. In a second lab study we evaluated the influence of auditory icons in a multi-user scenario on distraction and awareness about the second user's activities. Auditory icons increased awareness but also distraction. Based on the results of our studies, we recommend the use of audio on wall displays when users explore a wall display application together. Only in case multiple users work in parallel on focused tasks sound should be omitted.