Local variations of speaker-oriented acoustic parameters in typical classrooms: a simulation study
Invited paper
Lab. of Acoustics and Thermal Physics,KU Leuven
Tuesday 2 june, 2015, 10:00 - 10:20
0.9 Athens (118)
Abstract:
Classrooms are important spaces were teaching and learning takes place
primarily through acoustic communication, which ideally should not be hampered
by the acoustic conditions (geometry, materials and noise) but enhanced.
Therefore, acoustic design is important to optimize speech intelligibility and
vocal comfort, while limiting the vocal effort required to talk in. Two
speaker-oriented parameters have been proposed: the Voice Support, linked to
vocal effort, and the Decay Time at the Ears, linked to vocal comfort.
Theoretical models exist for the prediction of room-averaged values of these
parameters which overlook important local variations that teachers can use in
their own benefit, as e.g. getting closer to a reflecting surface to increase
the voice support. The present paper presents a method to calculate these
acoustic parameters from commercial acoustic simulation software and studies
the local variations of these parameters in typical classrooms, as well as the
effect of talker orientation.