The Var se System, Hybrid Auditory Interfaces, and Satellite-Ground Control:
Using Auditory Icons and Sonication in a Complex, Supervisory Control System            

Michael C. Albers                        
Center for Human-Machine Systems Research                  
School of Industrial and Systems Engineering              
Georgia Institute of Technology                   
Atlanta, Georgia 30332                       
malber@chmsr.isye.gatech.edu                     




Abstract                            
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
Var se system  , 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.                                                                           



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