Discord

The Story of Noise
Erscheinungsjahr 2014
ISBN: 978-0-19-968779-4
Verlag: Oxford University Press

Buch, Englisch, 332 Seiten, Format (B × H): 126 mm x 195 mm, Gewicht: 351 g

Noise is a widely recognized problem and health concern in the modern world. Given the importance of managing noise levels and developing suitable 'soundscapes' in contexts such as industry, schools, or public spaces, this is an area of active research for acousticians. But noise, in the sense of dissonance, can also be used positively; composers have employed it from Baroque music to Rock feedback; medicine harnesses it to shatter kidney stones and treat cancer; and
even the military uses it in (real and rumoured) weapons.

Mike Goldsmith looks back at the long history of the battle between people and noise - a battle that has changed our lives and moulded our societies. He investigates how increasing noise levels relate to human progress, from the clatter of wheels on cobbles to the sound of heavy machinery; he explains how our scientific understanding of sound and hearing has developed; and he looks at noise in nature, including the remarkable ways in which some animals, such as shrimps, use noise as a weapon or
to catch prey. He concludes by turning to the future, discussing the noise sources which are likely to dominate it and the ways in which new science and new ideas may change the way our future will sound.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Goldsmith, Mike

Fachgebiete

• Technische Wissenschaften Sonstige Technologien | Angewandte Technik Akustik, Tontechnik
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Populärwissenschaftliche Werke
• Technische Wissenschaften Umwelttechnik | Umwelttechnologie Lärmschutz
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Mechanik Akustik, Schwingungsanalyse

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction
1: The Nature of Noise
2: A Silent Bang
3: Classical Noise
4: The End of Science
5: A New Science of Sound
6: Noise in the Eighteenth Century
7: Machineries of Noise
8: The First Champions of Silence
9: New Worlds
10: Noise in Wartime
11: A Time of Peace?
12: A Different Kind of War
13: A New Beginning?
14: The Power of Science
15: A New Pollution
16: Noise Now
17: A Quieter Tomorrow?

Über Autor(innen)

Mike Goldsmith has a PhD in astrophysics from Keele University, awarded for research into variable supergiant stars and cosmic dust formation. From 1987 until 2007 he worked in the Acoustics Group at the UK's National Physical Laboratory and was Head of the group for many years. His work there included research into automatic speech recognition, human speech patterns, environmental noise, and novel microphones. He continues to work with NPL on a freelance basis and
has recently lead a three-year project to develop a new type of environmental noise mapping system. He has published over 40 scientific papers and technical reports, and since 1999, he has written over 30 science books for readers from babies to adults. Two of his books have been short-listed for the
Aventis prize (now the Royal Society prize) for science books.