Sound Ecology and Acoustic Health, Part 3: A Quantitative Ghost Hunting Application

Abstract

Introduction to periodical: After CC Issues 300 and 301, we could boast to our local teenager that “WE” have developed an Android application. Last month, CC Issue # we added “just enough additional code” (JEAC) to record and play-back .3GPP files so we could show our neighbour at a back-yard BBQ that – “I am not imagining things -- look there are really local urban noise nuisances” (Fig. 1A). This time we are going quantitative with an audio record and analysis update of the WAT_AN_APP application for “Things that Go Boom at Night” – TGBN. This will either enable us to request lots of commiseration as the community noise are really bad or boast that we have more ghosts going “BOO(m)” at night than anybody else! QUICK RECAP: The idea is to leave the TGBN device running over a weekend. We are going to capture a 7 seconds sound recording if the community noise sound level gets above background level. When the sound stays high in intensity, a warning message (Android toast) will appear on our device’s screen. As a precaution, a scary “Boo” kind of sound will be outputted to intimidate any ghosts that MIGHT be present as we head off in the opposite direction.