Re:Engineers create synthetic, sound-silencing structure tha...
by standyro on Sunday July 07, 2019 @04:45PM
(#20377729)
This article neglects to mention that scientists and architects in Silicon Valley have recently discovered an amazing new technology to improve productivity for workers in open office plans. It involves creating four directly connected acoustically designed walls made out of acoustic foam and eco friendly recycled wood with a fifth addition of a wall above the cubicle, with a removable door. Interior designers have coined a new term for this luxury: "private offices"
Re:Engineers create synthetic, sound-silencing structure tha...
by erentz on Sunday July 07, 2019 @05:19PM
(#20377934)
Don't forget that Silicon Valley and aspiring Silicon Valley companies in order to "be hip" and look like they rented the cheapest warehouse-esque startup space they could find, require all ceiling tiles be removed to ensure maximum possible sound reflection in their open plan offices.
As neat as this is, there are a lot of cases where sound is advantageous for us humans regardless of when it being annoying, it often can pass useful information buried in all the rest of the unuseful noise. This is already a problem in some cars where you can't tell if emergency vehicles are nearby/incoming or hear other drivers horn signals. Sometimes you want to ignore this but sometimes it's quite useful.