ENVISIONING SOUND SENSING TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCING URBAN LIVING

Emily Corrigan-Kavanagh, Andres Fernandez, Mark D Plumbley

Abstract: In this paper we report on initial findings from our user research where we used a tailored participatory approach called a “virtual world café” to explore how Guilford residents felt about the sounds in their locality to direct future technology research for creating new AI for sound sensing technologies. To begin, the concept of user-centered AI is defined and differentiated from other related and established terms “trustworthy” and “explainable” AI. Subsequently, we discuss how user-centered AI could be applied to AI for sound sensing technologies to improve acoustic environments and how user-centred AI for sound aligns with a soundscape approach. Following this, the significance of participatory research is discussed as well as the way it could be used to develop new user-centered AI. The “world café” as a participatory approach is then introduced with commentary on its suitability for supporting user-centered AI. This sets the context for subsequent sections that sequentially elaborate on the methodology, findings, and conclusions with plans for later research.