Auditory Materiality: Exploring Auditory Effects on Material Perception in Virtual Reality

This study examines the use of dynamic auditory cues to mimic the tactile sensation of touching materials in virtual reality (VR). A prototype employing finger pressure and movement input on a 3D-printed PLA board, a load cell, and eight piezoelectric sensors was developed. It emulates material textures like cardboard or earthenware through real-time audio feedback from pre-made audio recordings of scratching materials triggered by user interaction. A qualitative pilot study found that auditory feedback boosts immersion and material perception in VR. This suggests auditory cues are effective for enhancing material interactions in potential applications like virtual interior design, material selection, virtual museums, and gaming. Despite its limited sample size restricting generalizabilty, the study points to exciting future research avenues and enhancements in multimodal feedback systems.