An Experimental Study on Task Performance in Office Environment Applied with Achromatic and Chromatic Color Scheme

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to explore the differences between achromatic and chromatic schemes in task performance. To investigate only the hue effect on the participants' performance, it was important to use the colors with the same value (lightness) on the surfaces of achromatic and chromatic scheme. The participants were sixty office workers who are academic and administrative staff from different departments of Bilkent University in Ankara. The study was carried out in an office room at the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Bilkent University. In the first stage of the experiment participants were tested for color vision deficiencies and after a few minutes of adaptation, they were given performance tasks .Later, the participants evaluated the task they performed (self-report of the task) in 5 point scale likert-type questions. In the second stage, the same procedure was followed for the other color scheme (achromatic or chromatic). It was found that participants' performances were better in the chromatic scheme than their performance in the achromatic scheme, in addition it was found that there was no significant difference between achromatic and chromatic color scheme in terms of self-report of the tasks

A grounded theory approach to assess indoor soundscape in historic religious spaces of Anatolian culture: A case study on Hacı Bayram Mosque

This study presents a research that is concerned with the indoor soundscape in historical mosque. Hacı Bayram Mosque and its surroundings area of Hamamönü has been selected as the research site due to being the historical centre of Ankara. Although there are studies concerned with the acoustical characteristics of mosques, there is not enough research focusing on user’s expectation and interpretation of the indoor soundscape within a historical space. This study adopts the user-focused grounded theory to capture individuals’ auditory sensation and interpretation of the indoor soundscape within a historical mosque. In-depth interviews are held with congregation of the mosque and with the individuals sitting around the surrounding area. Based on their subjective responses, a theoretical framework is generated to gain an insight on the factors that affect individuals understanding and expectation from mosques. The conceptual framework generated through grounded theory shows how indoor soundscape may influence their individuals’ response to the physical environment of the mosque showing the association between the soundscape elements, spatial function and place identity

Using audio content and emotional response to predict soundscape perception through machine learning

This study is concerned with utilizing machine learning techniques for predicting soundscape perception by identifying the audio content of soundscapes and linking it with people's reported emotional responses. This research goal required developing an environmental sound classification model; however, the capabilities of these algorithms have some significant drawbacks. Supervised learning algorithms need a large number of labelled audio samples for each sound category. Given that a model for classifying environmental sound must be trained using a wide range of sound sources, this presents a substantial problem for developing a robust model that generalizes well to different environments. We prepared a convolutional neural network (CNN) based classifier; however, to tackle the limitations, we used musical instruments for the training dataset rather than environmental sound sources and optimized the neural network for this task. Based on how closely the soundscapes' audio content resembled the musical instruments in the dataset, CNN classified the soundscapes' audio content. We then conducted an online soundscape perception survey to evaluate participants' emotional responses to numerous soundscape clips. We prepared a feedforward neural network, which used the sound classification model's audio content output with the survey data to create a model for predicting people's responses to different soundscapes

A grounded theory approach to investigate the perceived soundscape of open-plan offices

This paper presents the findings of a user focused soundscape survey, that took place in a visual task based and a computational task based open-plan office spaces. Aim of this study was to conduct a grounded theory survey which captures individuals’ subjective response to the soundscape and creating a conceptual framework in the end. In order to achieve this goal, acoustical environment and sound sources were identified. In-situ measurements of sound levels (LAeq) and simulations, prepared by Odeon Room Acoustics Software 13.10 Combined, were used to explore the acoustical environment of the office spaces. Grounded Theory was used as the main research method to create a conceptual soundscape framework, and to reveal employees perception of the soundscape of their work environment. As part of grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with forty-nine employees from both types of offices. The results showed how the task at hand were affected by the sound environment and employees’ characteristics. Sound that were not expected or out of context and those that interfere with the concentration demanding tasks caused a negative interpretation of the soundscape. Due to this, employees’ adopted coping methods such as, accepting and habituating, intervening to the sound source, or putting on headphones to isolate themselves from the soundscape. It was discovered during the interviews that employees were concerned with silence as much as they were concerned with the noise. Employees expressed that the sound of keyboard and mouse means that they are working at that moment, there are other people around, and they are not working alone, or not working overtime

Аn indoor soundscape survey on the user’s coping methods for noise annoyance, disturbance and loss of concentration in public study areas

Book of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017During last decades, group study areas has started to be a common feature, especially in libraries. Unlike a traditional library, where the students are delivered library services, these spaces are encourage students to take command of their own (Bennett, 2007). These spaces are also popular especially among undergraduate students as they incorporate academic work and social activities by providing informal grounds (Applegate, 2009; Bryant, et. al., 2009). The flexibility of usage allowed open learning spaces to be used for both collaborative and individual study. In contrast with the strict silent zones of traditional library study areas, these informal study areas are prone to possible issues regarding the sound environment. In silent study areas, sound levels can become a source of frustration (Çankaya & Yilmazer, 2016; Harrop & Turpin, 2013), but in the informal public study areas, the students can get to adapt the sound levels even though it possible gets much higher than silent zones (Bryant et al., 2009). It was also expressed by the students that sound levels expressed a positive contribution to the social identity of space in open learning areas (Harrop & Turpin, 2013). This positive contribution to the place identity is not solely caused by the sound levels but by the expectation which is highly related with the context of sound environment. With this regard, the acoustic environment of the public study areas should not be evaluated solely based on the sound levels, but also with the individuals’ perception of the soundscape.Published versio

Combining Grounded Theory (GT) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyze indoor soundscape in historical spaces

This paper reports the findings of indoor soundscape research that was conducted in a historical museum setting. The study took place in the historic caravanserai of Cengelhan, which is currently a part of the Rahmi Koc Museum. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to capture visitors’ subjective museum experience and understand the role of the sound environment. In this sense, the research is divided into two parts: Grounded Theory (GT) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). For the qualitative part, semi-structured interviews were held as part of GT, to create a conceptual framework that reflects visitors’ perception of the indoor soundscape of the museum. Hypotheses were derived from this conceptual framework based on the patterns between the categories of the conceptual model. In the second part, this model was tested for statistical significance and path correlations through the SEM method. The core categories of the conceptual framework are similar to the previous research, mainly the categories of Context, Interpretation, and Outcomes. The SEM analysis showed that categories of Expectation and Preference were not significantly associated with the Built or Sound Environment. Findings showed that a positive interpretation of the sound environment could create a livable environment with a unique atmosphere which would increase visitors’ interaction with the museum and positively affect their experience

Investigating the Potential of Transparent Parallel-Arranged Micro-Perforated Panels (MPPs) as Sound Absorbers in Classrooms

Acoustic deficiencies due to lack of absorption in indoor spaces may sometime render significant buildings unfit for their purpose, especially the ones used as speech auditoria. This study investigates the potential of designing wideband acoustic absorbers composed of parallel-arranged micro-perforated panels (MPPs), known as efficient absorbers that do not need any other fibrous/porous material to have a high absorptive performance. It aims to integrate architectural trends such as transparency and the use of raw materials with acoustical constraints to ensure optimal indoor acoustic conditions. It proposes a structure composed of four parallel-arranged MPPs, which have been theoretically modelled using the electrical Equivalent Circuit Model (ECM) and implemented on an acrylic prototype using recent techniques such as CNC machining tools. The resulting samples are experimentally analysed for their absorption efficiency through the ISO-10534-2 method in an impedance tube. The results show that the prediction model and the experimental data are in good agreement. Afterward, the investigation focuses on applying the most absorptive MPP structure in a classroom without acoustic treatment through numerical simulations in ODEON 16 Acoustics Software. When the proposed material is installed as a wall panel, the results show an improvement toward optimum values in Reverberation Time (RT30) and Speech Transmission Index (STI)

Understanding the indoor soundscape of study areas in terms of users' satisfaction, coping methods and perceptual dimensions

The soundscape approach is not concerned with the sound level of an acoustic environment, but how it relates to human perception, how it is conceived by the individual and how it should be measured and managed. Even though it reached wide popularity in the last 15 years, it still lacks standardization. Perceptual dimensions of the indoor soundscape have major contributions to the experience of place. Identifying the relations between the sound and build environment can provide valuable information for the decision-makers to promote sensation, satisfaction and positive emotions. This research focuses on the sound environments of 4 open study areas within the Bilkent University Campus. These spaces have been favored by many students due to their ability to combine learning and social identity, in an informal but also an academic environment. This informality also resulted in with the lack of controlled sound environment which can be found in the silent study zone of the library. For this reason, this article examines the soundscape of the open study areas in terms of sound sources, users' reactions, coping methods and perceptual dimensions. Research settings are located at the dormitories, the Fine Arts Building, the library, and the Faculty of Science Building. In order to explore users' response to the sound environment, a questionnaire survey and in-situ measurement of sound levels (LAeq) have been conducted with 120 students. The questionnaire survey consisted of two main parts which were concerned with identifying sound source, satisfaction, loudness and exploring the perceptual dimensions of the indoor soundscape through semantic differential scales. Results showed no difference between participants' satisfaction with the soundscape regardless of the sound levels. Perceptual dimensions of the indoor soundscape are analyzed with factor analysis which extracted three factors, sensation, activity/communication, and functionality

Investigating the space recognation and soundmarks in open semi-open and enclosed spaces via semantic ratings

Book of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Definite Space – Fuzzy Responsibility, Prague, 13-16th July, 2015The aim of the study is to increase the samples in enclosed soundscape studies and as a public space; metro stations have been aimed to be included into the literature. This study is a subjective approach; examines the relationship between soundmark a space and space recognation within “degree of enclosure” context in order to gain data, sound recordings were taken from site and a listening test applied to investigate if spaces could be recognized/understood just by hearing. For each sound recording, subjects were asked to explain the recorded space (if they are open/semi open/enclosed space), and define the sound sources. Besides, in order to understand sound quality of the selected spaces, subjects were asked to choose from 17 pairs adjectives for each recording, which were selected from the previous studies. Results showed that, all of the subjects determined open spaces correctly, enclosed spaces were determined with 84% while 95% of the subjects have failed to identify the semi open spaces. Only half of the subjects were able to determine the usage of the spaces. As soundmarks, bird, wind, and water sounds were defined in the open space, pay gates and coin sounds were defined in the semi-open space, and the metro itself, as well as its brakes, doors, and announcement system were defined in the enclosed space. For open spaces, subjects tended to choose adjectives as “pleasant”, “calming”, “natural”; while for enclosed spaces tended to choose “unpleasant”, “stressing”, “artificial”, etc.Published Versio