Personal devices (e.g. smart phones, tablets) now have several functions and represent one of the main means of accessing music, radio and television programs. As the public increases their use of these devices, binaural listening with headphones becomes more frequent and symbolizes the idea of a personal experience, providing access to a reproduction of 3D immersive sound scenes. However, the individual dependence head-related transfer function (HRTF) that is the basis of binaural technology has limited its availability to the general public.
The BiLi project endeavors to provide solutions for individualized binaural listening via the support a network of research labs, small companies, and broadcasting companies (France Télévisions, Radio-France, Orange). The main focuses of the project are the assessment of the quality of the experience made possible by binaural listening, the research and development of solutions for individualizing the listening while avoiding tedious measurements in an anechoic chamber, and the definition of a format for sharing binaural data in anticipation of an international standard.
