Author: Dana M. Lodico
Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc., Petaluma, CA 94952

Coauthors: Rendell R. Torres, Yasushi Shimizu, Claudia Hunter
Rensselaer Polytech. Inst., Troy, NY 12180-3590

Work supported by the Program in Architectural Acoustics, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Paper Presented Monday Morning, May 24, 2004
147th ASA Meeting, New York, NY

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effects of interference speech and the built acoustical environment on human performance, and the possibility of designing spaces to architecturally meet the acoustical goals of office and classroom environments. The effects of room size, geometry, and acoustical parameters on human performance are studied through human subject testing. Three experiments are used to investigate the effects of distracting background speech on short-term memory for verbally presented prose under constrained laboratory conditions. Short-term memory performance is rated within four different acoustical spaces and five background noise levels, as well as a quiet condition. The presentation will cover research methods, results, and possibilities for furthering this research.

Contact Information:

Dana M. Lodico
Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc.
505 Petaluma Blvd. South
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 766-7700 (voice)
(707) 766-7790 (fax)
dlodico@illingworthrodkin.com