Researchers in the department of psychology at University of Iowa have found that humans have an auditory memory of only about 4 to 8 seconds.
Their paper is available online.
Transparent speaker
The CES 2014 convention is underway in Las Vegas and a bevy of new gadgets are on display. One audio product that has shone out is ClearView’s Clio loudspeakers. The speaker comprises a transparent curved perspex sheet that is mounted in a black base that houses the drive mechanism. The curve sheet acts as the sound radiator and is driven by piezo-electric actuators on the bottom edge of the sheet. This type of drive mechanism is patented and called EdgeMotion.
Here is a photo from ClearView’s media gallery. Try to find their speaker!
On a related topic of audio, at the bottom of the ClearView’s web page is a selected history of the development of audio technology which is worth a quick look. You’ll see familiar company names like Siemens, Lansing, Jensen, Kloss, Thiele and Small, and others. Of course the history of the development of audio technology is much more detailed and many many developments are missing, but their selected list is interesting nonetheless.
Magnetic Sculpture Makes Music
The Verge web site has a news article about a ‘Magnetophone’ sculpture that generates sound. The device comprises electro-magnets, strings, sound boards, and is controlled by an Arduino board.
Founder of Bose dies
The founder of the Bose audio company, Amar Bose, died on 12 July 2013, aged 83.
Read the news item on the MIT web site.
Man implants magnet into ear to make earphones
Rich Lee got a magnet surgically implanted into his ear. A coil around his neck generates a magnetic field that causes the magnet to vibrate and make sound.
Story via CNET.
Global Map of Underwater Noise from Shipping
Michael Porter and Laurel Henderson from Heat, Light, and Sound Research, Inc. will present a map of underwater noise level around the globe at the 21st International Conference on Acoustics. Simulations were conducted to determine the noise levels in the sea due to the propulsion noise from ship travelling on along shipping lanes around the globe.
See the article from the Space Daily web site.
Earthquakes telegraph impending tsunamis
Researchers at Stanford University have conducted simulations to show that vibration from an earthquake will reach land many minutes before the arrival of a tsunami, and could provide an early warning system.
Read the press release on the Stanford web site.
Ansys Service Pack 14.5.7 Released
A service pack for Ansys release 14.5.7 has been released according to an announcement by Ansys Inc.
Stock Screams For The Movies
The Smithsonian Magazine reported on the use of screams in movies. Two commonly used stock scream sounds are the Wilhelm or the Howie. The Wilhelm scream was first played in in the movie ‘Distant Drums’, from 1951. The Howie scream was most likely first played in the film ‘The Ninth Configuration’, from 1980. These stock screams are used in numerous movies and video games.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
The Most Annoying Sounds
The Journal of Neuroscience published a paper describing the top 10 most annoying sounds, according to a group of 16 people undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning of their brains when exposed to 74 different sounds. The results were:
1. Knife on a bottle
2. Fork on a glass
3. Chalk on a blackboard
4. Ruler on a bottle
5. Nails on a blackboard
6. Female scream
7. Anglegrinder (a power tool)
8. Squealing brakes on a bicycle
9. Baby crying
10. Electric drill
Source: Smithsonian Magazine