The importance of good acoustics
There seems to be increasing attention to acoustics these days. From a restaurant to a multifunctional church and from a call centre to a nursing home: good acoustics are becoming increasingly important. But what is the actual significance of good acoustics? In this blog post, we will provide an answer to this question.
Our daily lives and work no longer consist of well-defined, routine tasks. People search, analyse and process information, make connections and exchange knowledge with colleagues, clients and suppliers. With today's technology, it is expected that one can switch quickly and remain constantly flexible. Phones ring continuously and there are constant consultations. Tasks form themselves around goals. Calmness and concentration are essential aspects to effectively navigate this process.
After a disruption of a complex task, a person needs at least 8 minutes to return to the same level of concentration and speed as before the disruption (Gonzales, 2005)
For millions of years, our ancestors lived outdoors, and our senses have evolved and adapted accordingly. Out of the drive to survive, humans needed to see, smell, or hear dangers in order to quickly take appropriate action: to flee or to fight. In both cases, adrenaline is produced in the face of imminent danger, and this increases the heart rate. We have only been living and working indoors for a relatively short time. Evolutionarily, our senses have not yet adapted to this environment. This means that our senses are constantly on the lookout for impending danger.
Sound, smell, and visuals are continuously scanned and processed. This keeps us always on alert, which diverts our attention from tasks and goals. The worse the acoustics, the harder it is to place sound. Therefore, a high noise level (for example, due to reverberation) leads to a confusing and consequently stressful and tiring situation. This is an unconscious reaction, which is also bothersome for people who claim not to be affected by poor acoustics.
Persistent disruptive noise leads to an increase in adrenaline and the production of cortisol. Cortisol is important in the formation of anxieties, depression, and cardiovascular diseases. (McClellan & Hamilton 2010)
A good acoustics can bring many benefits: more peace and comfort. In a work environment, this leads to higher productivity, better concentration, and less stress. In a restaurant, it facilitates understandable conversations and reduces fatigue after an evening of dining.
Good acoustics at home also have significant consequences: in addition to a feeling of warmth and comfort, good acoustics provide better speech intelligibility, especially in conversations with multiple people, other sound sources (such as TV), or hearing issues.
Each situation has different acoustic requirements. EASY Noise Control therefore aims to fully tailor the acoustic design to the space, the users, and their activities. In this way, we want to collectively achieve the goal of a productive, healthy, and comfortable (work) environment.
