Since a short while mainstream Linux distros are capable to output the
sound of several applications altogether. A possible enhancement could
be to link the sound of each application with the position and state of
its window:
If an application is displayed fullscreen it would have maximum
volume and its sound is centered.
If an application window is more on the left or right side of the
screen, then the sound volume would be stronger on the left or right
speaker. This allows to instinctively link a sound heared with the
window position. 3D sound software can be used to create a feeling of
vertical position too.
If a window is hidden by other windows or if it is minimized, its
sound can be made dimmer. It can also be made to sound remote by
equalizing down the high frequencies.
This needs to be user-configurable. Some applications are meant to be
minimized while keeping the best possible sound quality and stereo
effect.
Tune the virtual position of the sound can be useful for warnings and
applets. Either to draw the attention to the applet's icon or towards
the window that issued a message.
Dynamically moving sounds can be a quick way to transmit informations
to the user. For example to give feedback on the position in the
taskbar where a window minimized, to give immediate informations on
alerts by the way the sound virtually moves on the screen...
Some web pages contain several multimedia items. A virtual sound
position of each would help in not getting confused. When opening
several pages in tabs and several output sound...
I wouldn't like a constant sound feedback on the mouse position. Anyway
when the mouse wasn't use for a while and the pointer disapeared, it
sometimes takes a few seconds to catch back its position while moving
the mouse in circles. Maybe then a short scritch sound can help, like
if the pointer was taped.
Maybe it would be interesting to build monitors with a few little
loudspeakers all around the display array.