The effects of room acoustics on the speech privacy of meeting rooms

Authors

  • John S. Bradley Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council, Montreal Rd., Ottawa, K1A 0R6
  • Marina Apfel Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council, Montreal Rd., Ottawa, K1A 0R6
  • Bradford N. Gover Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council, Montreal Rd., Ottawa, K1A 0R6

Keywords:

Acoustic intensity, Acoustics, Architectural acoustics, Signal to noise ratio, Speech, Field conditions, Listening tests, Meeting rooms, Room acoustics, Signal-to-noise ratios, Speech privacies

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of room acoustics on the speech privacy of meeting rooms. The study found that the uniform weighted signal-to-noise ratio can be used to predict the intelligibility and audibility of speech inside a room. It was also observed that the the criterion values can be influenced by spatial and temporal room acoustics effects. The study used an initial listening test in free-field conditions to determine the signal-to-noise ratio. The intelligibility of the transmitted speech and the threshold of the intelligibility of the speech were found different. New listening tests was used to investigate the spatial and temporal room acoustics effects on the speech privacy. The spatial and temporal room acoustics factors can have a great impact on the speech privacy of an enclosed rooms.

Additional Files

Published

2008-09-01

How to Cite

1.
Bradley JS, Apfel M, Gover BN. The effects of room acoustics on the speech privacy of meeting rooms. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2008 Sep. 1 [cited 2024 Oct. 11];36(3):24-5. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/2019

Issue

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada