Abstract: A computing device for modifying a virtual environment based on a detected sound, the computing device comprising: a microphone; a display configured to display a virtual environment to a user; and a processor; wherein the processor is configured to: receive, via the microphone, audio data of audio in a monitored environment; use the audio data to determine the occurrence of a non-speech target sound in the monitored environment; determine a modification of the virtual environment associated with the non-speech target sound; and control the display to implement the determined modification.

Abstract: A device for modifying audio output based on a detected sound, the device comprising a processor configured to: determine the occurrence of a target sound in a monitored environment during the output of playback audio to a user via an audio output device; determine whether the target sound is included in a user-defined list of permitted sounds, or in a user-defined list of non-permitted sounds; and if the target sound is included in the list of permitted sounds, control the audio output device to perform at least one of: permit the target sound to be heard by the user during output of the playback audio, and notify the user that the target sound has been recognized; or if the target sound is included in the list of non-permitted sounds, control the audio output device to prevent the target sound being heard by the user during output of the playback audio.