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An observational study on staff multitasking and activities at two emergency departments in Sweden shows that clinical staff spend up to 42% of time on information exchange, most of which is face-to-face. This information exchange was also the activity that was most multitasked with other activities.
Abstract available here
The new standard ISO 3382-3: Acoustics -- Measurement of room acoustic parameters -- Part 3: Open plan offices, has now officially been approved and moved on to publication stage 60.00 (2011-12-19), which categorises it as an international standard under publication.
The main points of this standard as experienced by Acoustic Bulletin, is the fact that reverberation time is not included, as it is not regarded as a trustworthy quality in open space environments. Instead qualities related to the distance the sound travels are introduced.
Instead of reverberation time, several more relevant acoustic qualities, including spatial sound distribution, spatial decay, sound pressure level at distance, and sound transmission index, are measured and can be converted into 4 single number quantities: distraction distance, spatial decay rate of A-weighted SPL of speech, A-weighted SPL of speech at 4 m, and average A-weighted background noise level.
for more info:
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Researchers from UC Irvine’s Department of Otolaryngology measured the noise levels of two dozen popular toys in stores and purchased the 10 loudest for precise gauging in a soundproof booth at UC Irvine Medical Center. They found that all exceeded 90 decibels and several reached 100 or more, equivalent to the noise of a chain saw, subway train or power mower.
"Generally, toys are safe if used properly," said Dr. Hamid Djalilian, associate professor of otolaryngology and director of neurotology and skull base surgery. "We tested the sound levels at the speaker and again at 12 inches, which is about the length of a toddler's arm."
But problems can arise if a noisy toy is held too close to the ears, he said: "Children are very sensitive to loud and high-pitched sounds. Unfortunately, hearing loss from noise damage is permanent and not currently curable."
read more about it:
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or see the video:
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Daniel Västfjäll, Chalmers University in Sweden, is involved in a project where they study the connection between what we hear and what we see - regarding disturbing work related sounds.
In a laboratory, the researchers conducted a series of experiments to see how the same sound, having the same volume, affect people differently depending on what they saw.
In some experiments they alternated between a dull office and another where it was abundant with plants and beautiful forest and beach images. The sound stressed more in the ugly room, according to the subjects themselves.
Your can also read more about how masking sound makes people more tired in the long run, speech in open plan offices and that you must handle the sound source when it comes to noise from HVAC (fans, ventilation etc.) etc.
Read more here (in Swedish)!
Photo: Michael Halsband/PR
…..particularly “You Shook Me All Night Long”.
A fascinating discovery was done whilst conducting research into what kinds of music affect the behavior of Great White Sharks.
Some certain songs worked and certain songs didn't in terms of an actual change in the behavior of the sharks. Listening to ACDC their behavior was more investigative, more inquisitive and a lot less aggressive. The sharks actually rubbed their face along the under water speaker.
Since sharks don't have ears it's more about what frequencies and vibrations in the water that appeals to the sharks.
Read more here!
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