Speaker
Description
Research on perceived noise annoyance seeks to identify conditions into circumstances where certain sound events elicit adverse psychological or physiological effects to those exposed. Within this research field two primary methodologies are often applied: laboratory-based studies, utilising sound laboratories or noise simulators to control and manipulate sound exposure, and field studies, which involve assessing the impact of sound events on individuals in real-world environments where they are already exposed to such noises. The advantage of laboratory experiments is that the sound events are fully controlled, while an empirical study measures people in their natural environment. To reconcile these approaches, the LOUNGE laboratory environment has been developed. It offers a controlled environment, combining the benefits of laboratory experiments and field studies, by replicating a natural living room setting, thereby enabling the exposure of participants to various sound events in a comfortable and realistic manner. The LOUNGE is equipped with an audio reproduction system to generate directional sound events and cover a frequency range of 19Hz-20kHz . A simulation system generates the sound events by combining positional data on sound sources with the expected sound signature, for instance of an aircraft flyover sound. A one-way window connects the room with a observation room to examine people’s behaviour. Initial studies that have been undertaken already include the comparison of a VR-based noise simulator with the LOUNGE environment and the evaluation of aircraft noise events while conducting two different cognitive tasks.