In this study, we propose the use of virtual urban field studies (VUFS) through context-based interface prototypes for evaluating the interaction design of auditory interfaces. Virtual field tests use mixed-reality technologies to combine the fidelity of real-world testing with the affordability and speed of testing in the lab. In this paper, we apply this concept to rapidly test sound designs for autonomous vehicle (AV)--pedestrian interaction with a high degree of realism and fidelity. We also propose the use of psychometrically validated measures of presence in validating the verisimilitude of VUFS. Using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, we analysed users' perceptions of presence in our VUFS prototype and the relationship to our prototype's effectiveness. We also examined the use of higher-order ambisonic spatialised audio and its impact on presence. Our results provide insights into how VUFS can be designed to facilitate presence as well as design guidelines for how this can be leveraged.

翻译：本研究提出通过基于情境的界面原型，采用虚拟城市实地研究方法评估听觉界面的交互设计。虚拟实地测试利用混合现实技术，将真实世界测试的保真度与实验室测试的经济性和速度相结合。本文应用这一概念，以高度真实性和保真度快速测试自动驾驶车辆与行人交互的声音设计方案。同时，我们提出采用心理测量学验证的临场感度量方法来验证虚拟城市实地研究的拟真度。通过定性与定量相结合的方法，我们分析了用户对虚拟城市实地研究原型中临场感的感知及其与原型有效性之间的关系。此外，我们还研究了高阶Ambisonic空间化音频技术的应用及其对临场感的影响。研究结果为如何设计虚拟城市实地研究以增强临场感提供了见解，并提出了利用该技术的设计准则。