A Quiet Place: Observations of Ambient Noise
I’m quite sensitive to noise. Ask my wife. She will tell you it’s one of my more annoying traits. While she is impervious to a TV blaring, if it’s too loud I become agitated. If it’s much too loud I…
On the blissful silence of my home office
Today was unusual. It was raining this morning, so I initially left the dogs in the house. It was cool, but not cold. The air conditioner was off. No heater was required. The result was an unusually quite situation in…
CBC Radio’s Spark On Soundscapes: Cutting Through The Noise
I’ve recently discovered a CBC Radio program called Spark. The CBC is a bone fide national treasure, and Spark is their program on technology in society. They describe it as:
Spark is a weekly audio blog of smart and unexpected trendwatching. It’s not just technology for gearheads, it’s about the way technology affects our lives, and the world around us.
…sounds interesting, non?
I recently loaded my phone with some Spark podcasts in a effort to catch up on the program. I was especially taken by episode 128 from November 2010 which considers the impact of noise on people. From the calming influence of bird song to the stress induced by using a cell phone, it’s profoundly interesting stuff.
Our personal and collective productivity often hinges on the soundscape of the working environment. Your personal stress and anxiety level can also be impacted. To be blunt, noise matters…and yet it’s often completely overlooked.