Communicating Auditory Impairments Using Electroacoustic Composition

Changes in human sensory perception can occur for a variety of reasons. In the case of distortions or transformations in the human auditory system, the aetiology may include factors such as medical conditions affecting cognition or physiology, interaction of the ears with mechanical waves, or stem from chemically induced sources, such the consumption of alcohol. These changes may be permanent, intermittent, or temporary. In order to communicate such effects to an audience in an accessible, and easily understood manner, a series of electroacoustic compositions were produced. This concept follows on from previous work on the theme of representing auditory hallucinations. Specifically, these compositions relate to auditory impairments that humans can experience due to tinnitus or through the consumption of alcohol. In the case of tinnitus, whilst much is known about the causes and symptoms, the experience of what it is like to live with tinnitus is less explored and those who have acquired the condition may often feel frustration when trying to convey the experience of ‘what it is like’ for them. In terms of impairment from alcohol consumption, whilst there is much hearsay, little research exists on the immediate and short-term effects of alcohol consumption on the human auditory system, despite over half of the UK population reported as consuming alcohol in 2017. The methodology employed to design these compositions draws upon scientific research findings, including experimental and explorative studies involving human participants, coupled with electroacoustic composition techniques. The pieces are typically constructed by mixing field recordings with synthesised materials and incorporating a range of temporal and frequency domain manipulations to the elements therein. In this way, the listener is able to experience the phenomenon in a recognisable context, where distortions of reality can be emulated to varying degrees. It is intended that these compositions can serve as easily accessible and understood examples of auditory impairments and that they might find utility in the communication of symptoms to those who have never experienced the underlying causes or conditions. This presents opportunities for pieces like these to be used in scenarios such as education and public health awareness campaigns

Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment: The Case of Casal Bertone Neighborhood in Rome

The role of cities in sustainable development is increasingly prominent so much so that they have been defined as “the cornerstone of a battle to defend the planet”. Moreover, since the raising number of people living within a city will reach the figure of 5 billion by 2030, cities should prepare themselves through developing efficient planning and best practices. In this light, a large number of environmental assessment tools and frameworks have been developed to moving towards sustainability the cities. More recently the focus has been moved on neighborhoods and districts interpreted as the building blocks of cities and as the more adequate level for trigger and enhance citizens participation. The identification of the neighborhood as a basic planning unit results in various theories and models aiming to create better and more livable urban environment. The increasing awareness of the inadequacy of a develop- ment model based on a unlimited growth is pushing towards the concept of sustainable development and on the importance of the local level. In this framework, aim of the paper is to present an assessment framework developed in coherence with the CAT-MED urban model and tested in the Casal Bertone neighborhood in Rome