The Influence of Audio Information Manipulation on the Perceived Atmosphere in Telepresence Systems for Remote Work

Remote work, which enables employees to work from home, has emerged as a prominent working style in recent years. However, unlike traditional office environments where the ‘atmosphere of the space’ is naturally shared, remote work relies on screen‐based communication, making it challenging to convey this atmosphere. This challenge has been associated with communication gaps, reduced team cohesion, a diminished sense of belonging, and heightened feelings of loneliness. This study investigates the relationship between the manipulation of audio information and the perceived ‘atmosphere of the space’ in telepresence systems for remote work. Building on prior research suggesting that audio with ‘high individuality and low context’ is suitable for conveying atmosphere, this study examines how different manipulations of audio information influence perception. The investigation explores two key themes: first, the psychological effects of transmitting audio at various information levels in a simulated remote work environment. Second, it examines the use of unintelligible audio, where linguistic meaning is suppressed to prioritize individuality while minimizing context, and investigates its influence on the perceived atmosphere. This approach exploratorily investigates the connection between sound characteristics and the transmission of ambiance, providing a foundation for designing audio processing for telepresence.