This project explores the application of the ventriloquism effect in the context of the nightclub, to assess its potential for enhancing audience immersion. The ventriloquism effect is a cross-modal illusion in which a sound is perceived as originating from the location of a simu
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This project explores the application of the ventriloquism effect in the context of the nightclub, to assess its potential for enhancing audience immersion. The ventriloquism effect is a cross-modal illusion in which a sound is perceived as originating from the location of a simultaneous visual stimulus rather than its actual source. This illusion was integrated into an audio-reactive electroluminescent wire installation that generates visual cues based on live audio produced by DJs during a nightclub event. The installation was evaluated through a controlled user test, supplemented by a questionnaire distributed among event attendees and interviews with user test participants. The user test revealed a statistically significant increase in self-reported immersion during audio-reactive light modes, compared to non-reactive light modes. Additionally, an increase in self-reported spatial specificity in the perceived localisation of auditory cues was observed during audio-reactive light modes, though this effect was not statistically significant. This increased spatial specificity would indicate ventriloquism, as the perceived location of auditory cues shifts to the spatially specific visual cues created by the installation. In addition to the user test, qualitative evaluation methods revealed that the light installation enhanced audience immersion. While statistical significance concerning the presence of ventriloquism was not achieved, findings indicate that cross-modal illusions hold potential for multisensory design in nightclubs, warranting further research.