We are defined by sound from birth, as our experiences, memories, and identity are shaped by the sounds we hear. While silencing sound completely is about half right, humans thrive on sensory stimulation, including healthy stimulation of our hearing. Just as visual environments are designed using colors and textures to enhance life, acoustic environments should also be designed to enhance life enjoyment through sounds that can help patients heal faster, guests sleep deeper, groups celebrate longer, and even increase worker productivity and sales. New technologies allow acoustic design of soundscapes to positively influence human behavior and create opportunities.
1. “We are conceived in sound
we grow
and emerge in its wake.
Our history is a collection
of sound sensations,
experiences, emotions
All uniting into an aural identity.
It is this ocean
of recollections, sound images,
dreams, memories
We share.
Stan Shaff, Composer
