The Varèse System, Hybrid Auditory Interfaces, and Satellite-Ground Control: Using Auditory Icons and Sonification in a Complex, Supervisory Control System

The basic auditory interface techniques of auditory icons, earcons, and sonification can deftly address the needs of most domains. However, there are domains that cannot be adequately addressed by any single one of these techniques. By combining the characteristics of these basic techniques, hybrid auditory interface techniques can be created to cover those domains that auditory icons, earcons, or sonification cannot. This paper describes a methodology for creating hybrid auditory interface techniques. This methodology is demonstrated through the development of a sonification-auditory icons hybrid for use in a complex, supervisory control environment. The Varèse system1, which incorporates the sonification-auditory icons hybrid technique, is then developed to aid monitoring, fault detection, and fault isolation in a satellite-ground control environment.