Dinkum: A Spatial Audio Communication Tool for Immersive Remote Conversations

Enhancing Remote Collaboration Through Spatial Audio Technology

Dinkum is a mobile application that allows users to immerse themselves in customizable audio environments, creating a unique and immersive experience for remote conversations. By leveraging spatial audio technology, Dinkum adds an emotional aspect to remote communication, which is often lacking in traditional video calls.

One of the key features of Dinkum is the ability to select from three room sizes - intimate, casual, and adventurous. Each room size offers a different audio environment, allowing users to match the type of conversation and people they are speaking to. Additionally, Dinkum offers a range of ambisonic background sounds, providing a full-sphere surround sound experience that further enhances the immersive nature of the conversations.

Another innovative aspect of Dinkum is the ability to change the distance to other participants throughout the conversation. This interactive feature adds an extra layer of interaction and realism to remote conversations, making them feel more natural and dynamic.

Dinkum was developed through an iterative prototyping process, intensive user testing, and a strong collaboration between academia and industry. Kappeler utilized various plugins for the spatialization of mono audio files in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and tested the experiences with different individuals. He also built a binaural microphone for in-depth user testing with multiple participants. To ensure remote testing, Kappeler established a signal-processing path that allowed him to test with various users while being physically apart.

The technical specifications of Dinkum include the utilization of the 3D Tune-In Toolkit real-time binaural spatialization tool, which simulates the reverberation of different room sizes, the distance to the listener, and the direction to the sound source. For user testing, Kappeler developed a signal processing path that enabled him to send an audio recording from a binaural microphone through platforms like Zoom.

With Dinkum, users can start conversations by selecting the participants they want to speak to, choosing the room size that matches the conversation, selecting ambisonic background sounds, and initiating the call. Users also have the flexibility to leave the room and create new rooms during conversations with individual participants. For recurring conversations, Dinkum allows users to save groups and settings, providing convenience and ease of use.

The development of Dinkum started in January 2021 and was completed by Tobias Kappeler for his MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering program until June 2021. The project will be exhibited at the yearly graduation show of the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London in June 2021.

Dinkum has received recognition for its innovative design and practicality. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Mobile Technologies, Applications, and Software Design category in 2022. This award acknowledges Dinkum as a well-designed, practical, and innovative creation that meets professional and industrial requirements, contributing to a better world through its integration of industry best practices and competent technical characteristics.