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- These two phases are repeated until the participant no longer makes any
mistakes.
- This same procedure is carried out with the second list of items.
Experiment 2:
- After having done experiment 1, the same participants listen to the 60
spearcons alone (without the vocal synthesis) and are asked to write the
corresponding word.
- Six new participants who did not do experiment 1 are asked to do the same.
The results of experiment 1 show that the average number of tries necessary to
obtain a perfect score is much lower for spearcons than for earcons. Indeed, a single
try on average is enough to obtain a perfect score with spearcons, versus 4.5 (list of
things) and 6.5 (cell phone list) tries on average with earcons.
Experiment 2 shows that for the 60 spearcons, 59 are recognized by the
participants of experiment 1 and 38 by new participants.
These works therefore show that spearcons are much more efficient in terms of
learning as it is in fact relatively easy to recognize the corresponding word. In other
words, the transformation of a word into a spearcon still makes it fairly intelligible.
8.5.4.4.
Other types of tests
In order to test the different sonification modes of scrollbar (see section 8.3.1.4),
Yala and Walker [YAL 08] use subjective preference tests. They ask participants to
choose the sonification method that they prefer from four different design modes.
The tests are carried out both with blind people and people who are able to see.
The results of the preference tests are as follows:
- the
single tone
design has a better score than the
double tone
;
- the proportional design obtains a better score than the alphabetical design;
- there is no difference in preference between the two types of polarity (i.e.
ascending or descending pitch);
- generally, blind and non-blind participants find sounds useful. People who are
blind from birth are less enthusiastic, whereas others are very keen on having this
kind of solution.
