Noise reduction-based auditory notification encourages independently noticing of human presence in a multitasking environment

This study investigates a teleoperation notification interface that supports operators in autonomously recognizing remote information and shifting attention away from other tasks when multitasking between operating a remote-controlled robot as a receptionist and performing separate tasks. We propose a noise-reducing auditory notification method that artificially replicates the cocktail party effect by decreasing the volume of background noise and increasing the volume of visitor footsteps. Experimental results show that this method enhances operators' awareness of visitors' presence without causing discomfort, thereby improving their ability to autonomously notice visitors. Furthermore, brain activity measurements confirm that operators can maintain high cognitive resources dedicated to their tasks. Our method not only enables the realization of a teleoperation interface that allows operators to actively recognize events and perform multitasking without stress, but also holds the potential to enhance the notification capabilities of general multitasking devices.