An experimental study on speech interference in public leisure spaces
Author
Yilmazer, Semiha
Gezginer, Pelin Meriç
Date
2010Source Title
39th International Congress on Noise Control Engineering 2010, INTER-NOISE 2010
Publisher
Institute of Noise Control Engineering
Volume
2
Pages
1060 - 1067
Language
English
Type
Conference PaperItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
Physical comfort requirements of users in the non-acoustical spaces, leisure space, and usability of the space in long-term period should be taken into consideration in terms of sustainability of the space. The aim of this study is to investigate the speech interference of users' in an openplaned public leisure space. Bilkent Rollhouse was chosen as a leisure space because of its variance of activities in an open-plan like bowling, dart, billiards, play station and dining area. In this respect, a questionnaire was prepared to check the perception of sound of different user types in the area. The questionnaires were applied at the most crowded day of the week that is Friday and in between 18:00 to 21:00. The results of the survey were evaluated statistically. In addition to this, the equivalent continuous noise level, Leq, of the leisure space were taken in parallel to the questionnaire application to the users. Measuring of speech intelligibility via articulation index (AI) subjectively was the second phase of this study. Via application of the word list to the normal hearing users, the AI contours were prepared. Finally, objective and subjective measurements were analyzed in terms of speech interference during leisure activity in the space. As a leisure space, the relation between noise annoyance ratings and Leq did not show any significant difference in dart, billiards and play stations activities. However, in bowling activity and dining area, it was found that there is a significant relation between noise annoyance and Leq. This study reveals that users submit ambient noise of the space during leisure activity, they get in a common behaviour psychologically, they adjust their vocal noise that they create and finally these issues lead controlling of ambient noise by them. It means that users give up loudly speaking, they accept repeating or silence, focus on meal and they do not like getting in uncomfortable situation since their main activity is dining. For further study, the number of the samples in not only different leisure spaces, but also measurement points and sampling times should be increased to make clear hypothesis given above, since the study reveals completely different behaviour that is introduced in literature like cocktail party effect phenomenon.
Keywords
AILeisure spaces
Leq
Noise annoyance rating
Speech interference
Ambient noise
Articulation indexes
Cocktail party
Experimental studies
Leisure activities
Leisure spaces
Leq
Long-term period
Measurement points
Noise annoyance
Noise levels
Normal hearing
Second phase
Speech interference
User type
Word lists
Artificial intelligence
Audition
Behavioral research
Noise pollution
Speech intelligibility
Surveys
Acoustic noise