Task-irrelevant speech is among the most common and disruptive sources of noise in modern office environments. For acousticians, the challenge has long been: how do we objectively assess the distraction caused by such fluctuating, speech-dominated environments using tools readily available in the field? A new study by Hongisto et al. (2025) offers a solution. It […]
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Forum Acousticum/Euronoise 2025: Let’s talk acoustics, research & real-world impact
From 23–26 June 2025, the acoustics world will gather under the Andalusian sun for Forum Acousticum / Euronoise 2025, hosted in the vibrant coastal city of Málaga, Spain. This joint congress is one of the year’s most significant events for anyone passionate about sound—its science, its design, and its profound impact on people.We’re thrilled to […]
Restaurants get louder—here’s how good acoustics and table spacing can break the cycle
In hospitality spaces such as restaurants, hotel lobbies, and cafés, escalating noise is more than just a nuisance—it’s a scientifically recognized phenomenon with measurable impacts on both guest experience and business outcomes. This is largely driven by the Lombard effect, a reflexive human response where people raise their voices in noisy environments to be heard. […]
How noise affects decision-making
Noise has always been seen as a challenge in workplaces, but its impact on decision-making—especially in experience-based judgments—is not yet fully understood. This article looks at two research studies that explore how noise affects decision-making and the practical implications of their findings. Why room acoustics matter in decision making Efficient decision-making is essential in workplace […]
Empirical Method for Predicting Speech Sound Propagation in Offices
ISO 3382-3 describes how to assess sound propagation and speech intelligibility in open-plan offices. At the recent Inter-Noise conference in Nantes, Rainer Machner presented Hongisto and Keränen’s (2013) regression-based model for predicting ISO 3382-3 parameters. By analyzing data from 10 office spaces, he evaluated the model’s performance and gave practical recommendations for its use in […]
Dissatisfaction with noise strongly related to the perceived fit of office
Many research studies investigate satisfaction with indoor environmental quality in offices. In their study, Jenni Raduni and Valtteri Hongisto from Turku University examined the influence of office types and satisfaction with indoor environmental quality factors on different activities’ perceived fit. The study was based on a large global dataset consisting of more than 82,000 respondents […]
