Abstract

In recent years, due to the high level of technological standardization of the home computer, entertainment systems and high-speed web paraphernalia, our access to, desire for, and perspectives on various technological elements have been taken for granted. We have become acclimatized to the latest super-product promotion, web surfing, or interaction with the latest object-oriented programming software. Although audio often enhances graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to deliver feedback to users, interfaces in which sound is the principal element, or even shares a parallel domain, are atypical. Nonetheless, this practice is emerging as a viable junction within new technologies and digital media, encouraged by the ongoing development of mobile and all-pervading computing. Within emerging multimedia practice, spatial objects (visuals) require essentially to be structured in a two-dimensional space, whereas temporal objects (sound) require a sequential array. The goal of this dissertation is to develop a broader understanding of these two key elements, while providing designers and educators with useful information that is appropriate to familiar design discourse.* *This dissertation is a compound document (contains both a paper copy and a DVD as part of the dissertation). The DVD requires the following system requirements: Windows MediaPlayer or RealPlayer.