Form

Today during our class my group decided to go to Noah's workspace since we would be more productive there. There we talked about the form of the noise control device and looked over a touch light that I had brought in. We wanted to see if we could utilize the form that was already created. This may have allowed people to approach it since it is a very generic looking thing now a days, and not actually see it or rather register that it was there, until it lit up at least. Taking advantage of this could be like hiding it, but right in front of people.

So we took it apart and saw that there was not enough space within it, so what if we just used the top part and redesigned the bottom half? Well, that could create some more problems, so how about we just redesign the whole thing. Keeping this shape in mind as well as drawings and rhino samplings I've created we are now looking into if we can use a clear ABS as the dome part, since .13in is probably not thin enough of plastic for what we need it to be. If we can get clear ABS that would be best as all of the design would be ours and would be easiest to create. If not, then I would have to form a new design, but we have already talked about both instances.

That's where we are at for now. I've also been doing some research about decibel levels and rules for library sound levels.

From the NP STL rules page, "Cell Phone Use

All audible cell phone conversations should be taken to the main lobby of Sojourner Truth Library. Please set ringer to "vibrate" for other areas of the Library. Text messaging may be used at all locations in the building."

"Prohibited Behavior

1. Smoking


2. Use of drugs and/or alcohol


3. Excessive noise or other disturbances, including chanting or marching"

There are many more... but not related to noise, other than the cell phone. Sadly it does not say what excessive is defined as by them... so what is excessive to others?

• "NOISE — Any sounds of such level and duration as to be or tend to be injurious to human health or welfare or that would unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property." - New Paltz Police Department (Noise Ordinance) (goes into depth about what is specifically considered noise, but not decibel levels...) (link)

• The Boston, Massachusetts Noise Ordinance is more specific than is the New Paltz Ordinance. It states "No person shall make or cause to be made any unreasonable or excessive noise in the city, by whatever means or from whatever means or from whatever source. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

  a. dBa shall mean A-weighted sound level in decibels, as measured by a general purpose sound level meter complying with the provisions of the American National Standard Institute, "Specifications far Sound Level Meter (ANSI SIR 19711)", properly calibrated, and operated on the "A" weighting network

  b. Load amplification device or similar equipment shall mean a radio, television, phonograph, stereo, record player, tape player, cassette player, compact disc player, loud speaker, or sound amplifier which is operated in such a manner that it creates unreasonable or excessive noise.

  c. Unreasonable or excessive noise shall mean

  1. Noise measured in excess of 50 dBa between the hours of 11:00 p.m.. and 7:00 a.m.., or in excess of 70 dBa at all other hours; or

  2. In the absence of an applicable noise level standard or regulation of the Air Pollution control commission, any noise plainly audible at a distance of three hundred (300) feet or, in the case of loud amplification devices of similar equipment, noise plainly audible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet from its source by a person of normal hearing. lord. Tl4 § 354; Ord, 1991 c. 4 § ii"

So, what are decibels anyway? What is a general range?

Here is a link to a sound chart. It states that a "Whisper Quiet Library" is 30dB, where as "Normal Conversation" (at 3-5 ft) is about 60-70dB.

So we can use these guidelines to determine what dB levels each library floor will have a tolerance for, since as one goes down in floors in the library it should be more discriminatory toward noise.

That's all for now I guess. I will be posting again soon.