Acoustic Communication Models

Model
Objective (Acoustics)
Subjective (Soundscape)
Communicational (Information)
Methodology
Energy / Signal Measurement

Psychoacoustic Response to Stimuli

Social Survey ("Annoyance") 
Qualitative Evaluation

Classification
(based on perceptual categories)

Listener Preferences, Attitudes, Habits

Listening as Information Exchange
(detecting pattern, assigning meaning)

Mediating Listener-Environment Relationships
(positive, negative, surrogate)

Role of Noise
Negative Effects / Response
damage / stress / annoyance / interference

Lo-Fi Soundscape

Negative Listening Habits (Non-listening)

Schizophonia

Music-as-Environment

Obscures Auditory Image
(reduces information, definition, clarity)

Negative Mediation
(alienation, disconnectedness --> media surrogate)

Design Criteria
(Acoustic)

Minimize Negative Effects

Listener Acceptability

Hi-Fi Balanced Soundscape

Active Listening

Variety <---> Coherence

Functional Equilibrium

Design Criteria
(Electroacoustic)
      Fidelity / Signal to Noise Ratio

Sound Quality
Preservation

Enhanced Listening

Same
(except the context may be indeterminat
e)
Design Strategies
(Acoustic)
Noise Control / Abatement
(1) reduce at source
(2) inhibit transmission path
(3) isolate receiver

Risk Criteria

Hearing Conservation
Earcleaning - Soundwalk

Maximize pleasing, informative sounds

Minimize unwanted, uninformative sounds

Re-structure the Sound
(patterned, informative)
and Re-integrate into Context

Modify Relationships within the System
(at any level since it is dynamic)

Design Strategies
(Electroacoustic)
Sound Effects / Muzak

Amplification / Reinforcement

Enhancement

Sound Document

Simulated Soundscape

Soundscape Composition

Surrogate Environment <--> Zero-Sum <--> Creative Extension

Continuum (Mimetic <--> Abstract)

New Syntax / Process

Relate Inner and Outer Complexity