A child-centred experiment to test an individually controlled noise-reducing device

Zhang, D.; Tenpierik, M.J.; Bluyssen, P.M.

doi:10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.108373

A child-centred experiment to test an individually controlled noise-reducing device

Title

A child-centred experiment to test an individually controlled noise-reducing device

Author

Zhang, D. (TU Delft Indoor Environment)
Tenpierik, M.J. (TU Delft Building Physics)
Bluyssen, P.M. (TU Delft Indoor Environment)

Date

2021

Abstract

A recently published simulation-based study has demonstrated the effect of an individually controlled noise-reducing device (ICND) on improving acoustic quality in classrooms. As a follow-up research, this current study aims to develop a real ICND and test it with its target users-- primary school children. The prototype developed in this study looks like a canopy hanging above a desk, was selected and prototyped. It has two modes, i.e. open and closed, and can be easily changed by a remote controller. With this device, school children can control their local acoustic environment by themselves. More than 200 primary school children have been invited to test two prototypes of this device in the acoustical chamber of the SenseLab. The results showed that 83% of the children liked this device and 61% of them wanted to have it in their own classroom. However, since this is a prototype, there is still room for improvement. Based on the children’s feedback, several suggestions for future modifications have been summarized.

Subject

Individual control
Noise reduction
Primary school classrooms
Prototype design
User experience

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9ed8575a-f0ef-44cb-a5ef-681abfc6480b

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.108373

ISSN

0003-682X

Source

Applied Acoustics, 184

Part of collection

Institutional Repository