Showing papers on "Annoyance published in 2001"

Annoyance from transportation noise: Relationships with exposure metrics DNL and DENL and their confidence intervals

Abstract: We present a model of the distribution of noise annoyance with the mean varying as a function of the noise exposure. Day-night level (DNL) and day-evening-night level (DENL) were used as noise descriptors. Because the entire annoyace distribution has been modeled, any annoyance measure that summarizes this distribution can be calculated from the model. We fitted the model to data from noise annoyance studies for aircraft, road traffic, and railways separately. Polynomial approximations of relationships implied by the model for the combinations of the following exposure and annoyance measures are presented: DNL or DENL, and percentage "highly annoyed" (cutoff at 72 on a scale of 0-100), percentage "annoyed" (cutoff at 50 on a scale of 0-100), or percentage (at least) "a little annoyed" (cutoff at 28 on a scale of 0-100). These approximations are very good, and they are easier to use for practical calculations than the model itself, because the model involves a normal distribution. Our results are based on the same data set that was used earlier to establish relationships between DNL and percentage highly annoyed. In this paper we provide better estimates of the confidence intervals due to the improved model of the relationship between annoyance and noise exposure. Moreover, relationships using descriptors other than DNL and percentage highly annoyed, which are presented here, have not been established earlier on the basis of a large dataset.

Chronic aircraft noise exposure, stress responses, mental health and cognitive performance in school children.

Abstract: Background. Previous research suggests that children are a high risk group vulnerable to the effects of chronic noise exposure. However, questions remain about the nature of the noise effects and the underlying causal mechanisms. This study addresses the effects of aircraft noise exposure on children around London Heathrow airport, in terms of stress responses, mental health and cognitive performance. The research also focuses on the underlying causal mechanisms contributing to the cognitive effects and potential confounding factors.Methods. The cognitive performance and health of 340 children aged 8–11 years attending four schools in high aircraft noise areas (16h outdoor Leq>66dBA) was compared with children attending four matched control schools exposed to lower levels of aircraft noise (16h outdoor Leq<57dBA). Mental health and cognitive tests were group administered to the children in the schools. Salivary cortisol was measured in a subsample of children.Results. Chronic aircraft noise exposure was associated with higher levels of noise annoyance and poorer reading comprehension measured by standardized scales with adjustments for age, deprivation and main language spoken. Chronic aircraft noise was not associated with mental health problems and raised cortisol secretion. The association between aircraft noise exposure and reading comprehension could not be accounted for by the mediating role of annoyance, confounding by social class, deprivation, main language or acute noise exposure.Conclusions.These results suggest that chronic aircraft noise exposure is associated with impaired reading comprehension and high levels of noise annoyance but not mental health problems in children.

The Effects of Interruptions on Task Performance, Annoyance, and Anxiety in the User Interface

Abstract: When an automating application needs a user’s input or has feedback or other information for that user, it typically engages the user immediately, interrupting the user’s current task. To empirically validate why unnecessarily interrupting a user’s task should be avoided, we designed an experiment measuring the effects of an interruption on a user’s task performance, annoyance, and anxiety. Fifty subjects participated in the experiment. The results demonstrate that an interruption has a disruptive effect on both a user’s task performance and emotional state, and that the degree of disruption depends on the user’s mental load at the point of interruption. We discuss the implications of these results in terms of building a system to better coordinate interactions between the user and applications competing for that user’s attention.

Low frequency noise "pollution" interferes with performance

Abstract: To study the possible interference of low frequency noise on performance and annoyance, subjects categorised as having a high- or low sensitivity to noise in general and low frequency noise in particular worked with different performance tasks in a noise environment with predominantly low frequency content or flat frequency content (reference noise), both at a level of 40 dBA. The effects were evaluated in terms of changes in performance and subjective reactions. The results showed that there was a larger improvement of response time over time, during work with a verbal grammatical reasoning task in the reference noise, as compared to the low frequency noise condition. The results further indicated that low frequency noise interfered with a proof-reading task by lowering the number of marks made per line read. The subjects reported a higher degree of annoyance and impaired working capacity when working under conditions of low frequency noise. The effects were more pronounced for subjects rated as high-sensitive to low frequency noise, while partly different results were obtained for subjects rated as high-sensitive to noise in general. The results suggest that the quality of work performance and perceived annoyance may be influenced by a continuous exposure to low frequency noise at commonly occurring noise levels. Subjects categorised as high-sensitive to low frequency noise may be at highest risk.

General scales of community reaction to noise (dissatisfaction and perceived affectedness) are more reliable than scales of annoyance.

Abstract: General measures of reaction to noise, which assess the respondent's perceived affectedness or dissatisfaction, appear to be more valid and internally consistent than more narrow measures, such as specific assessment of noise annoyance. However, the test–retest reliability of general and specific measures has yet to be compared. As a part of the large-scale Sydney Airport Health Study, 97 respondents participated in the same interview twice, several weeks apart. Test–retest reliabilities were found to be significant (p<0.001) for two general questions and three specific “annoyance” questions. The general measures were significantly more valid for four of the six correlations (with activity disturbance), and more stable than the annoyance scales for five of the six possible test–retest comparisons. Amongst 1015 respondents at Time 1, the questions regarding general reaction were more internally consistent than the questions regarding annoyance. Taken together, these data indicate that general measures of reaction to noise have superior psychometric properties (validity, internal consistency, and stability) compared with measures of specific reactions such as annoyance.

On the annoyance caused by impulse sounds produced by small, medium-large, and large firearms.

Abstract: A laboratory study was designed in which the annoyance was investigated for 14 different impulse sound types produced by various firearms ranging in caliber from 7.62 to 155 mm. Sixteen subjects rated the annoyance for the simulated conditions of (1) being outdoors, and (2) being indoors with the windows closed. In the latter case, a representative outdoor-to-indoor reduction in sound level was applied. It was anticipated that the presumed additional annoyance caused by the ‘‘heaviness’’ of the impulse sounds might be predicted from the difference between the C-weighted sound exposure level (CSEL;LCE) and the A-weighted sound exposure level (ASEL; LAE). In the outdoor rating conditions, the annoyance was almost entirely determined by ASEL. The explained variance, r2, in the mean ratings by ASEL was 0.95. In the indoor rating conditions, however, the explained variance in the annoyance ratings by (outdoor) ASEL was significantly increased from r2=0.87 to r2=0.97 by adding the product (LCE2LAE)(LAE2 a) as a second variable. In combination with a 12-dB adjustment for small firearms, the present results showed that for the entire set of impulse sounds rated indoors with windows closed, the rating sound level, Lr , is given by Lr5LAE +12 dB1+beta(LCE-LAE)(LAE-alpha), with alpha=45dB and beta = 0.015 dB-1. For the outdoor rating condition, the optimal parameter values were equal to alpha=57 dB and, again, beta=0.015 dB-1. In validation studies, in which the effects of the present rating procedure will be ce compared to field data, it has to be determined to what extent the constants a and b have to be adjusted. (A)

Evaluation of loudness-level weightings for assessing the annoyance of environmental noise

Abstract: Assessment of the annoyance of combined noise environments has been the subject of much research and debate. Currently, most countries use some form of the A-weighted equivalent level (ALEQ) to assess the annoyance of most noises. It provides a constant filter that is independent of sound level. Schomer [Acust. Acta Acust. 86(1), 49–61 (2000)] suggested the use of the equal loudness-level contours (ISO 226, 1987) as a dynamic filter that changes with both sound level and frequency. He showed that loudness-level-weighted sound-exposure level (LLSEL) and loudness-level-weighted equivalent level (LL-LEQ) can be used to assess the annoyance of environmental noise. Compared with A-weighting, loudness-level weighting better orders and assesses transportation noise sources, sounds with strong low-frequency content and, with the addition of a 12-dB adjustment, it better orders and assesses highly impulsive sounds vis-a-vis transportation sounds. This paper compares the LLSEL method with two methods based on loudness calculations using ISO 532b (1975). It shows that in terms of correlation with subjective judgments of annoyance—not loudness—the LLSEL formulation performs much better than do the loudness calculations. This result is true across a range of sources that includes aircraft, helicopters, motor vehicles, trains, and impulsive sources. It also is true within several of the sources separately.

Effects of Multiple Auditory Alerts for in-Vehicle Information Systems on Driver Attitudes and Performance:

Abstract: In-vehicle information systems might introduce a variety of sounds to alert drivers to situations ranging from imminent collisions to the arrival of email. This study examined the effects of auditory alerts on driver performance and attitudes. Sixteen participants drove eight driving scenarios over a period of two days in which they were exposed to email alerts and collision avoidance warnings. In each scenario, four email alert tones sounded, one occurring 300 ms before a collision avoidance tone. Two collision avoidance tones sounded in each scenario, one associated with a braking lead vehicle and the other a false alarm. The results show that annoyance is an important sound characteristic that can affect workload. The results also indicate that urgency is a sound characteristic that affects driving performance. In addition, the strong effect of sound parameters on annoyance suggest that Edworthy's urgency mapping principle should be complemented by an annoyance tradeoff principle.

Candidate Physiological Measures of Annoyance from Airborne Chemicals

Abstract: Annoyance due to short-term exposure to airborne chemicals is a key factor in modern environmental research. Unpleasant odors or those that are believed harmful can annoy us. Since annoyance is modulated by the psychological and physiological states of the exposed persons, it is essential that we understand how these factors interact with environmental stimuli to yield a given level of this response. A potentially fruitful approach in this effort may be to treat annoyance as an emotion induced by the odor, and possibly irritation, resulting from chemical exposures. In this way, methods applied to assess induced emotions will likely be of value in elucidating annoyance. A rationale is presented for use of the startle reflex to elucidate the motor component of annoyance, which is manifest as a redirecting of attention towards the annoying odor (or irritant). Although evidence supporting the use of breathing changes to assess the vegetative component of annoyance is somewhat more scattered and indirect, this approach seems likely to be the most fruitful for future research. Experiments to enhance our understanding of annoyance using these two non-verbal end-points are outlined.

Railway-noise annoyance and 'misfeasance' under conditions of change

Abstract: Several studies under steady state conditions showed relationships between residents' noise annoyance and their attitudes towards the authorities, especially their belief that the noise could be reduced, but that those in authority do nothing about it ('misfeasance'). It was assumed that these relationships are even stronger under conditions of expected changes in exposure. Residents at an already existing railway line, which was planned to be extended and broadened, were interviewed before and after the extension. In the before condition, those residents, who mistrust the intentions of the planners, have more negative expectations with regard to their future annoyance. Furthermore the greater the mistrust, the more the expected future annoyance exceeds the actual annoyance. In addition, the mistrust in the before condition also correlates with the later actual annoyance after the extension. Even stronger correlations between mistrust and expected future noise annoyance were found in a survey in which residents at two planned new railway lines were interviewed before the construction of the new lines had begun. These results confirm the importance of effective strategies to inform the residents fully and honestly in an early stage of the planning process, in order to minimise the mistrust of those affected. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E113232.

Noise and health: how does noise affect us?

Abstract: Noise annoyance is a primary indication that noise is a problem, and by itself noise annoyance means that the quality of life is adversely affected. Results from noise annoyance research are presented that make possible a detailed evaluation of noise exposures with respect to the annoyance induced. Then a summary of the status of the evidence regarding other effects of environmental noise is presented, and a framework is presented for a more detailed analysis of the influence of environmental noise on humans. Four routes are distinguished through which noise exerts its influence: sound masking route, attention route, arousal route, and affective/emotional route. Through masking, noise leads to reduced speech comprehension. Through its effect on attention, noise affects the mental processing of information involved e.g. in reading. Through its effect on arousal, noise disturbs sleep which leads to fatigue, decreased performance and depressed mood. These effects do not require extremely high or long noise exposures and safely can be assumed to occur, with different degrees of intensity, in a substantial part of the world population, especially in areas with a dense population and dense transportation networks. In addition, if the above mentioned effects are chronic, they can adversely affect cognitive capabilities and lead to depressed mood. Furthermore, noise can increase the risk of ischeamic heart disease and possibly hypertension. A subtle effect of noise may be that through its direct effects on the functioning of persons and specifically because persons will try to avoid those effects by not conducting the activities vulnerable to these effects, noise may change activity patterns in our society

Fuzzy modeling of traffic noise annoyance

Abstract: This paper presents a fuzzy rule-based model for the prediction of traffic noise annoyance. Several inference schemes are compared for their performance in prediction capabilities as well as in speed. It is shown that the fastest implementation does an equally good job, after optimization of certainty degrees attached to the rules. For this optimization, a genetic algorithm is applied.

Annoyance of Low Frequency Noise and Traffic Noise

Abstract: The annoyance of different low frequency noise sources was determined and compared to the annoyance from traffic noise. Twenty-two subjects participated in laboratory listening tests. The sounds were presented by loudspeakers in a listening room and the spectra of the low frequency noises were dominated by the frequency range 10 Hz to 200 Hz. Pure tone hearing thresholds down to 31 Hz were also measured. Eighteen normal hearing subjects and four subjects with special low-frequency problems participated in the tests.

Annoyance and Urgency of Auditory Alerts for in-Vehicle Information Systems

Abstract: The proliferation of in-vehicle information systems and the need for drivers to keep their eyes on the road suggest that auditory alerts will become increasingly common. This study examined how sound parameters affected perceived urgency and annoyance. The sound parameters investigated were overall density of a warning tone, pulse speed and type of burst used to create a warning tone. The context in which the auditory alert is presented was an additional factor. Significant effects were found for all factors. Annoyance and urgency of an alert depend on the context in which it is presented and sound parameters interact with context to affect the perceived urgency of alerts. Like urgency, annoyance displayed systematic variation as a function of warning signal parameters. These results suggest that auditory alert design should go beyond mapping perceived urgency of the alert to the urgency of messages, but should also consider a tradeoff analysis that addresses the costs of increasing annoyance.

Determination of sound quality of HVAC systems on trains using multivariate analysis

Abstract: An attempt was made to develop a model describing annoyance of noises generated by HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) systems on trains. The work was performed in three sequential parts. The first part contained the recording and reproduction of the HVAC noises. A binaural recording technique was applied and headphones were used for the reproduction. The second part of the study included both subjective and objective evaluations of the recorded noises. In the subjective evaluation 33 subjects judged nine different noise stimuli on annoyance scales. In the objective evaluation several sound quality descriptors and the third-octave-band levels were calculated. In the final part of the study, multivariate analysis was applied to modeling annoyance of the HVAC noises on the basis of the sound quality descriptors and third-octave-band levels. An annoyance prediction model was developed based on sharpness, a sound quality descriptor that describes the high frequency content in the sound, and a newly developed descriptor, tonal ratio. The new descriptor identifies the tonal components by comparing the sound pressure level between 125 and 800 Hz with the two third-octave-band levels adjacent to it. The interpretation of the results is that high frequency content and tonal components are the main contributors to the annoyance of HVAC noises and is where the main focus should be addressed in order to improve the sound quality of future HVAC systems.

Assessment of low frequency noise annoyance in steering premises according to subjective annoyance rating by workers. A pilot study

Abstract: The study covered 192 workers aged 26-62 years (mean 41 +/- 6), employed at workposts in the control rooms. A questionnaire was applied as a main tool of the study. The aim of the study was subjective annoyance rating of low frequency noise at workplaces on a 100-degree rating scale. Using the same scale, the study subjects rated annoyance of reference wide-band noise (60 +/- 2, 70 +/- 2, 75 +/- 2 and 80 +/- 2 dB(A)) and reference low frequency noise (65 +/- 2, 70 +/- 2, 75 +/- 2 and 80 +/- 2 dB(A)) reproduced by phones. Questionnaire inquires were preceded by the measurements of A-, C- and G-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure levels (LA eq.T, LC eq,T i LG eq,T). Noise with prominent low frequency components (10-250 Hz) at A-weighted sound pressure level of 47.7-65.2 dB was assessed as more than somewhat annoying (more than 25 degrees on the 100-degree annoyance rating scale) by 70% of workers examined. No correlation between subjective annoyance rating of the noise at the workplaces and LA eq,T or LG eq,T was noted. Statistically significant correlation (r = 0.23) between subjective annoyance rating and LC eq,T was observed. The subjective rating of annoyance of the reproduced low frequency noise and wide-band noise differed significantly. Low frequency noise was rated as more annoying than wide-band noise at the same A-weighted sound pressure levels.

Measurements Techniques for Transportation Noise

Abstract: The noise from transport systems (roads, railways and aircraft) are increasing more and more both in space and in time and, therefore, they are still the major factor responsible for environmental noise pollution. The population exposed to transport noise is also increasing, and the corresponding health effects on people (i.e. annoyance and sleep disturbance) become more severe. Due to this current situation international and national legislation has been issued and implemented to reduce the harmful effects of such noise. This paper describes the techniques prescribed by recent Italian legislation to measure road, railway and aircraft noise.

Loudness, noisiness, and annoyance of printer sounds

Abstract: Introduction In order to achieve noise reduction at workplaces, laser or inkjet printers should be used. However, for administrative work, frequently a carbon copy is necessary, and therefore needle printers or daisywheel printers are usually applied. Therefore, noises produced by different needle as well as daisywheel printers, recorded in accordance with ISO 7779, were assessed in subjective experiments. The subjective evaluations are compared to physical measurements of loudness according to DIN 45631. In addition, questions of different methods (Semantic Differential versus Magnitude Estimation) and subjects from different countries (Japan versus Germany) are touched.

Cognitive processes in global noise annoyance judgements

Abstract: In the past 30 years a variety of concepts and measures are introduced in the noise field such as annoyance, noise sensitivity, interference with daily activities, attitudes toward the noise producer, stress due to noise, perceived control and coping with noise. Little agreement has been achieved on the theoretical meaning of these concepts and the way they should be measured. Especially the issue of construct validity needs further attention. Part of the problem is due to the fact that research in this field has been mostly a-theoretical aimed at dose-response relations. Some uniformity has been reached in the way non-specific annoyance is measured. In this paper it will however be argued on the basis of extensive psychometric analyses on annoyance related measures that this only covers a small part of the total reaction to noise. The interrelations between measures of perceived loudness, interference, non-specific annoyance and stress due to noise show a pattern that supports the notion that they are really indicators of one underlying construct. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E113232.

Annoyance, fatigue and performance during mental arithmetic task under meaningless noise

Abstract: 聴覚が直接関与しない読書や計算のような精神作業をしているときにさまざまな音圧レベル値の無意味外来雑音が侵入してくる場合, 作業者が外来雑音に対してどのような心理的応答を示すか, 外来雑音が作業者の疲労感にどのような変化を及ぼすか, 外来雑音が作業成績の低下にどのような影響を与えるか等の問題を作業心理実験のもとに考察した. 具体的には, 最も単純な精神作業の一例として, 1桁の数の加算計算作業に着目し, 外来雑音としても最も単純な定常広帯域白色雑音の場合について, 外来雑音の音圧レベル値とそれに対する作業者の心理的応答との関係, 雑音の有無による作業後の疲労感の差異, 雑音の有無による作業量の差異とその時間経過による変化の様子について考察した.

The influence of a quiet facade on road traffic annoyance

Abstract: A situation (1) with equal traffic noise on all four sides of a residence, has been compared with a situation (2) with a high level on one side and low on the other sides. A laboratory experiment has been conducted to have the test persons adjust the high or the low noise level in situation (2), so that the situation is assessed ‘‘equally annoying’’ as situation (1). The results indicate that the annoyance caused by road traffic noise can be reduced if at least one quiet side of the house can be achieved.

The effects of time delay in electronic commerce

Abstract: An experiment is conducted to ascertain the effects of time delay on consumer behaviour in the context of electronic commerce (e-commerce). Our experiment has found that sequences of delays cause annoyance amongst the subjects. There is little to suggest that psychological adaptation to the time delay may exist. Patterns of delay -- such as increasing and decreasing downloading speeds -- also matters when a subject evaluates an e-commerce shopping experience.

Effects of military aircraft overflights on recreational users of national parks

Abstract: This study was initiated as part of the cooperative US Air Force / National Park Service efforts to understand and effectively manage the potential adverse effects military air crew training can have on the National Parks. Through simultaneous sound data acquisition and Park User interviews, data were collected that provided a basis for determining how military jet overflights can affect visitor experience at a site in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. Several useful findings resulted from the analysis. First, visitors can distinguish between the concepts of 'annoyance' and 'interference' produced by aircraft sound. Annoyance is an emotional reaction, while interference is more of an objective judgement. Visitors can find that the sound of aircraft interferes with the natural soundscape, but are not necessarily annoyed. Visitors believe annoyance results if the interference is often or severe enough. Second, visitors tend to be less annoyed by aircraft noise if they remember learning that they could hear or see aircraft while in the Park. This finding shows the importance of informing visitors about possible aircraft overflights - i.e., managing visitor expectations. Finally, aircraft noise is likely to produce less annoyance if aircraft fly over in close succession, rather than widely spaced, one at a time. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E113232.

A path model applied to field hearing data on road traffic noise annoyance constructed with the induction method

Abstract: It is well known that psychoacoustic annoyance depends on the loudness, the tone color, and the temporal structure of sounds. And then, it is found that fear and noise sensitivity have a large impact on annoyance. However, words representing the degree of annoyance vary with region and other factors. In many papers published up to date, the factors above were not all considered during selection of the rating words. In this paper, path analysis is applied to noise annoyance constructed with the induction method of reasoning which discovered a general psychological scale from the rating words representing psychological effects for road traffic noise by residents in Nagano City. The model is based on the postulate that an individual's annoyance data obtained through hearing test in the field at vehicle noise sources is a function of 19 antecedent factors. Of these, 14 (traffic volume, heavy vehicles, crossing, traffic lane, kinds of tires, distance, hearing places, garden wall, gender, age, kinds of subjects, length of residence, ownership of car and license) are exogenous, that is variables within the model are not dependent on any other factors, and the remaining five LAeq(5min), standard deviation, repeated average time of peak levels, average duration time and noise sensitivity) are endogenous. The results show that the strongest direct effects are LAeq(5min), noise sensitivity, hearing places, distance and kinds of tires. The strongest indirect effects are distance and hearing places. It can be said that the path model can suppose the effects of noise and non-noise factors. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E113232.

Responses to road traffic noise in Brisbane

Abstract: This paper describes key results of a combined noise and social survey carried out in Brisbane to determine community response to road traffic noise. It was found that annoyance levels measured on a seven point scale were similar to those reported in a 1976 study carried out in three major Australian cities. The percentage of residents found to be highly annoyed by traffic noise was shown to be higher than that predicted by the Schultz curve at lower noise levels. The relationship determined between dissatisfaction level and L10 (18h) for traffic noise was found to be comparable with the results obtained in the United Kingdom. For the covering abstract see ITRD E107776.

Research Note Annoyance of low frequency noise and traffic noise

Abstract: SUMMARY The annoyance of different low frequency noise sources was determined and compared to the annoyance from traffic noise. Twenty-two subjects participated in laboratory listening tests. The sounds were presented by loudspeakers in a listening room and the spectra of the low frequency noises were dominated by the frequency range 10 Hz to 200 Hz. Pure tone hearing thresholds down to 31 Hz were also measured. Eighteen normal hearing subjects and four subjects with special low-frequency problems participated in the tests.