Even though sound cancellation seems like a futuristic idea, a worker at Bell Labs first observed sound cancellation in 1878, and the engineer Henri Coandă patented the idea of sound cancellation due to opposing sound waves in 1930 (Hansen 2). The first patent for any type of noise cancelling technology went to German inventor, Paul Lueg, in 1934 (Elliott 13). He then updated his idea in 1936 by adding in a microphone that measured the sound field, manipulated the sound it heard and gave that data to a different source. Lueg’s ideas were a substantial start, but overall, too simple for the complexities that exist with sound waves. They did lay down a solid foundation that others began to build upon over the years however. Harry Olson and Evert May contributed to the next big addition in active noise control. They published a paper in 1953; their main idea was to have another object absorb the sound, and they envisioned this being used in planes or cars (14). In addition, William Conover was another inventor working in the 1950s. His ideas greatly contrasted to those of Olson and May, as he focused on the amplitude of sound waves while Olson and May had concentrated on general ideas as opposed to the scientific details of waves. By the end of the 1950s, no one had produced a machine that would effectively cancel out sound—not because the inventors did not understand the concepts, but because the necessary technology was too advanced.
After discussing the idea of sending out sound waves to cancel out sound, the following question may arise: why not simply block the sound instead of trying to use opposing sound waves? This is the difference between active noise cancellation and passive control. Passive noise control technology involv...
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...ation when the ratio of cost to effectiveness is measured, so it would be less expensive than trying to muffle the sounds of hundreds of people and machines (Hansen 2).
As a whole, trying to create the machinery that precisely measures sound as it produces an opposing wave is extremely difficult to get exactly right, and this is where the disadvantages lay. For one, it takes many years of education to fully understand the way the sound waves work and how to create an active noise cancelling machine, so the amount of people available to install such is limited, which therefore restricts how far and how quickly the sound cancelling technology will spread (Hansen 7). Without more people understanding how to install an active noise control barrier, the idea cannot be as widespread as other scientific ideas that have many people all over the world capable of applying it.
Cochlear implants are amazing feats of biomedical engineering, and have helped many people regain the ability to hear. While there are some ethical dilemmas that go along with them, there is no denying just how amazing these implants really are. By understanding how the ear works, what causes it to stop working, and using science and engineering to fix that problem, there is now a way to give someone a sense they might have never been able to experience. It can be costly, but it could drastically change someone’s life. Some people may say for worse, but there will always be someone else to say it was for better. Overall, cochlear implants are an incredible invention and will continue to grow and only get better with technology.
In 1904 Eugene Lauste successfully recorded sound onto a piece of photographic film. This invention was known as a “Sound Grate” the results where still far to crude to be used to public display.
...eliminated. The eugenic movement, mainstreaming, and cochlear implants have yet to prove that the culture of Deaf people can be taken away from them, which is ultimately a wonderful thing.
The unit used to measure the intensity of sound is called the decibel(dB). Sounds that measure up to 75dB are considered to be in the "safe zone". Constant exposure to to sound at these levels are very unlikely to cause any lasting damage to long term hearing. The sound of regular volume conversation measures at around 60dB and the sound of a running dishwasher measures at roughly 75dB. Sounds around the 85dB level are considered a moderate risk to hearing. Exposure at these levels for extened periods of time may lead to some form of damage causing NIHL. Sounds at these levels include heavy traffic and crowded areas at 85dB, active subway stations at 95dB and listening to an mp3 player with ear buds at maximum volume at 105dB in which listening for just 15 minutes can cause permanent damage. Sound at 120dB and above are in the "danger zone". This level of sound is to be avoided at all cost as exposure even for a short pulse will lead to immediate permanent damage. This level includes the sound of ambulance sirens at 120dB, a jet taking off at 140dB and gunshots at 165 dB and above. (Rabinowitz,
Miller tried his best to make the electronic version of the hearing aid. The results weren’t as good as he expected they were horrible. The hearing aids only amplified 15 decibels at it’s most. Those 15 decibels weren’t good enough because the volume of a normal conversation is about 60 decibels and if one of the people is having trouble hearing the other person will raise their voice another 30 decibels.
A simple instrument remove or improve workplace tensions between the management or the employer and their employees.
Business Wire. (2013, June 04). Bose Introduces Quiet Comfort (R) 20 Acoustice Noise Cancelling (R) Headphones and Soundlink (R) Mini Bluetooth (R) Speaker.
Noise is ubiquitous in our environment. (Pediatrics , 1997) It is undesirable sound, unwanted sound. Sound is what we hear. It is vibration in a medium, usually air. Sound has intensity, frequency and duration. The ability to hear sounds at certain frequencies is more readily lost in response to noise. (Pediatrics , 1997). The further you are from sound the less effect you hear it but the more closer you are to sound the louder it is.
Ultrasound began with an interest in one of the basic senses of the human body. It was many years ago, in ancient times, that scientists started exploring the aspect of sound which eventually led to the invention of the sonometer, by the well-known mathematician named Pythagoras. (Essentials of Sonography) In 1793, however, a new discovery brought about a whole new perspective to sound waves. Dr. Lazarro Spallanzi fell upon an idea that the common bat was able to get around without vision. His experiments proved that the bat was able to regard his surroundings by his unique listening abilities unknown by man. This was only the beginning to a mature science that continues with strong progression to this day. (Brief History of Ultrasound)
On the other hand, the Kendall Support Services Team (2003) indicates that FM hearing aids allow children to hear at the same volume regardless of where they are seated. In fact, FM systems may cover over 100 feet and are portable (Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). These systems require teachers to wear microphones and students to wear special hearing aids (Kendall Support Services Team, 2003). Similarly, soundfield systems amplify the instructor’s voice, not only for the deaf students, but for the w...
The cylinder phonograph proved to be successful, but the problem with the machine was that the tin foil only allowed a few uses. With the help of another great inventor, new advances could be made to improve this invention. The inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, had set up a laboratory for his cousin, Chichester Bell and Charles Tainter. Bell a...
vociferous noises are offensive and punishable by law. The law is called noise pollution. The
Loud noise is a very serious environmental predicament that majority of individuals are subjected to on a daily basis. In Toronto, loud motorcycles contribute greatly to noise pollution within the municipality. Noise pollution can result in serious health problems such as impaired hearing, stress and loss of sleep. The article published in the Toronto Star newspaper concentrates mainly on the need for loud motorcycles to be eradicated in Toronto in order to regulate the level of noise pollution.
When a sound is made a vibration is sent through the air. The vibrations are let off by the source, and this leads to something such as an ear to pick up the noise. Once the detector has picked up the wave, the wave must be ...
First of all, a sound source radiates power and this results in a sound pressure, where the sound power is the ‘cause’ and sound pressure is the ‘effect’. But still, we always have to keep in mind that sound cannot travel through vacuum, simply, because sound propagates as a wave, which creates ‘compressions’ and ‘rarefactions’, as it interacts with the particles of the medium. If there is no medium, then there are no particles and of course, there is no interaction wave-particles interaction and as a result, no sound is produced. This specific fact, was proven by Robert Boyle (17th century), a researcher who showed through multiple experiments, that a bell, ringing in vacuum medium cannot be heard. We have to mention here, that sound travels in different speed through various media.