MP3 players could give listeners a "nudge" towards areas of interest

Walkers could programme a destination into a device and be directed there while listening to songs.

If headed the right way, music would play from both headphones, but shifting volume to different ears could indicate a change in direction.

Swansea and Glasgow universities have had funding for the three-year project.

Researchers say the technology could be developed to allow users to personalise the system.

If they were in an unfamiliar town or city and had an interest in art galleries, the device could give them 'a nudge' to alert them o­ne was nearby.

The nudge would either be a physical tap or vibration from the device Dr Matt Jones

The system's prototype was developed by Dr Matt Jones, a senior lecturer at Swansea University's department of computer science, while he was working in New Zealand.

He has now had funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to develop the idea further with colleagues in Scotland.

Dr Jones said: "Normally, when we listen to music through headphones, we do so to shut the world out. This system allows the world to seep in when users let it.

"We are particularly interested in redefining how people interact with computers, and how we can make computers more actively responsive to their needs.

"So we're looking at how we can use the music people are listening to in order to prompt them to take notice of things that might be of interest to them.

"For instance, if your handheld device knows that the user likes art galleries, it can give a 'nudge' when they're in the vicinity of a gallery."

He added: "The nudge would either be a physical tap or vibration from the device, or it could be given audibly by changing the balance of the music being listened to.

"If the user decides to follow the cues to see what the device thinks is of interest, the system will then guide them to the destination.