The sound of a new decade
Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 22:41
First of all: a wonderful 2010 to all readers of Everyday Listening! May this new year be an inspiring one! Next to entering a new year we are also at the beginning of a new decade. The 00’s are over, and the world is in a vibrant state.
The soundscape of the world around us is changing all the time. The world is like an instrument, and if we change the material the instrument is made of, we change its size or we tighten its strings, its sound will change accordingly.
What can we expect to hear the next ten years? Each place in the world has its own unique sound (listen to some examples in the Places category), so we will not be able to describe the sound of the whole world. But there are many common sound sources in Western societies we all recognize.
We’re slowly reaching the end of the era of oil, and more and more alternatives will appear. If cars become electric, the traffic noise in cities might decrease dramatically. At higher speeds the noise of the tires drowns out the engine noise anyway, so a highway will still be heard at almost the same volume. At lower speeds though, we will hear a huge difference.
Next to cars we will see many electrically mopeds and bikes. It will be a relief to get rid of the noise those things tend to make (and the dirty smell they leave behind). Because of the quietness of these new machines we might hear a lot more horns honking to warn inattentive pedestrians and cyclists on the streets.
I would be very happy with a cleaner and quieter city. What else will change? What can we do to create a more pleasant sounding environment? Do you have an idea?
Photo by ibm4381
Reader Comments (4)
Something I've noticed in Toronto is that a lot of annoucements (ie: in airports, on subways/streetcars, in malls) are now pre-recorded, as opposed to being made by "real people." The TTC had an especially jovial announcer on the Bloor line (buuuuuuuLOOOOOOR is next. BLOOOOOOOOOOR!)...it made the commute nicer when he was there because you knew a real person was moving you from one end of the city to the other.
In London, a machine in Sainsbury's tells you which cash register to go to next, as opposed to the actual teller going "next, please!"
I really miss the "Bloor" announcer and I think as technology improves, and more and more processes become automated, we will start hearing fewer and fewer real voices, and more and more prerecorded voices.
It's sad to lose that personality.
That is a very good example, Erica! I always like it when announcers have their own personal 'style', and it would be a pity if they will be replaced by static automatic versions. Things become less dynamic...
Some electric cars already have synthetic 'engine noise' designed to warn pedestrians of their approach. I wonder whether these will allow customisation, so you could give your little city runabout the sound of a sports car or a juggernaut... or your kid going 'brrrm brrrm'. A friend came up with the brilliant idea of using the sound of a horse's hooves.
That would definitely be funny, Hugh. But I don't think we will be better off in that case. If all small cars will start making the sound of a Formula One car the city will not be a pleasant environment to ride your bike :)