Contributions to discrete-time methods for room acoustic simulation

Abstract

Home office worker performance and perception as affected by residential audible distractions through various wall constructions ͓43.55.Rg, 43.50.Qp, 43.55.Hy͔ -Alicia J. Wagner, Department of Architectural Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, July 2008 (M.S.). This research examines the effects that residential audible distractions have on task performance and subjective perception of home office workers when transmitted across various residential wall constructions. Subjects performed math, verbal, and typing tasks while exposed to 16-h-long sound signals. These signals were generated using four audio filters simulating residential wall constructions providing varying degrees of acoustic attenuation ranging from field sound transmission classes of 36-58. The audio filters were applied to four types of audible distractions: ͑1͒ pop music, ͑2͒ television, ͑3͒ conversation, and ͑4͒ a potpourri of kitchen, pet, and children's noises. A questionnaire was also administered to determine participants' perception of loudness, variation in time, distraction, and annoyance. Statistical analyses indicate that none of the wall constructions or audible distractions significantly affected task performance. However, subjective perception does appear to be related to both factors. The relationship between task performance and subjective perception was also examined, yielding significant results between typing and subjective perception.