Adding Sound Transparency to a Spacesuit: Effect on Cognitive Performance in Females

Jose Berengueres; Mariam AlKuwaiti; Mohamed Abduljabbar; Fatma Taher

doi:10.1109/OJEMB.2023.3288740

Adding Sound Transparency to a Spacesuit: Effect on Cognitive Performance in Females

IEEE Open J Eng Med Biol. 2023 Jun 22:4:190-194. doi: 10.1109/OJEMB.2023.3288740. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jose Berengueres¹, Mariam AlKuwaiti¹, Mohamed Abduljabbar¹, Fatma Taher²

Affiliations

¹ College of ITUAE University Al Ain 17551 UAE.
² Zayed University Dubai 144534 UAE.

Abstract

Spacesuits may block external sound. This induces sensory deprivation; a side effect is lower cognitive performance. This can increase the risk of an accident. This undesirable effect can be mitigated by designing suits with sound transparency. If the atmosphere is available, as on Mars, sound transparency can be realized by augmenting and processing external sounds. If no atmosphere is available, such as on the Moon, then an Earth-like sound can be re-created via generative AR techniques. We measure the effect of adding sound transparency in an Intra-Vehicular Activity suit by means of the Koh Block test. The results indicate that participants complete the test more quickly when wearing a suit with sound transparency.

Keywords: Human factors; mars; sensory deprivation; sound; spacesuit.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by UAEU-ZU under Grant T12-033.