Introducing Timbre to Design of Semi-Abstract Earcons - The Role of Timbre in Meaning Creation of Non-speech Interface Sounds

Interface sounds have a relatively modest role inpresent day human computer interaction. The visualdisplay is usually considered the most important partof the interface. Several studies of non-speechsounds have demonstrated encouraging results of howeffective sounds could be. Despite these resultscommercial interface design has not adapted soundusage. This maybe be partly due to the fact that someaspects of earlier studies have not been wellthought-out and the sounds designed with the help ofearlier guidelines may not be functional. Thiscontent analytic literature study focuses on studyingthe earlier research of non-speech interface soundsliterature of the semiotics audiovisual designmusicology and psychoacoustic in order to find outhow interface sounds could be more usable andintuitive with the help of timbre evoked meanings.