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21
May 2013

Using White Noise to Recover Lost Time

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#distractedinbarnesandnoble

Rows and rows of cubicles, or even worse, shared trading-style tables, with little space and certainly no privacy are what the modern office offers most workers.

Man, it is hard to quiet the noise (without and within) to spend a few moments in silence and solitude! {Facebook}

Still expected to work productively, workers are faced with few alternatives.  Some suffer through it, their ears pricking at every nearby voice, others try to book a conference room for their own space, and still others flee…what a sad fact, that workers have to leave work to get any work done.  It’s not surprising in that the average worker is distracted more than 2 hours every day!  And the culprit is conversational distraction, or as “overheard conversation” as  workers called their biggest complaint.  That’s why many workers work outside the office- if they can escape the cubicle farm, then maybe they can escape the noisy effects.  Unfortunately, conversational distraction is not exclusive to offices:

To the two girls sitting across from me: We all get it. You’re the only two people in your office who do any work in your office. You’ve been BLATHERING ON about it for 30 minutes. Maybe it’s time to go back there and show everyone else how awesome you are? LOTS of Love, The Girl in the Corner Booting Up Her Favorite White Noise Channel… {Facebook post made from Barnes & Noble}

Recovering Lost Time with White Noise

Love that it's portable any very small, yet offers tons of options.

Love that it’s portable any very small, yet offers tons of options.

The first friend mentions how hard it is to find a serene peace of mind in which to even think, let alone function.  The second comments on a common issue- how annoying and distracting conversation is, both within and outside of the work place.  The irony is that while those ladies were bragging about their work ethic, they were distracting people trying to work at a coffee shop, while simultaneously not working themselves!

So, in honor of my friend who never works in the confines of an actual office, here are several white noise options:

  1. Free white noise generator.  Anyone can use this online generator for free and can even customize it.  It is ideal for a quick work session at a coffee shop or bookstore or anywhere else you’d rather not have to pack up an extra item.
  2. Portable sound machine.  I love portable sound machines because I can use them at home and on the road, for work and for sleep.

If you’re tried of losing hours a day to preventable problems such a noise, then be sure to try a white noise generator or portable sound machine.

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16
May 2013

The Truth About White Noise

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White Noise & The Office

I’ll admit that I still watch the office, though I just as quickly follow up that statement with this one- it’s more out of a sense of closure as it wraps up this season.  I was amused by yet another misuse of white noise- people rarely understand how it actually works.  So, you might recall that recently the characters on the Office saw the promo for their show in the US, as well as Denmark, etc.  They’re excited, then confused, then nervous, then downright terrified of what they see: their secret yet not so secret moments.  For 10 years they’ve had no privacy and while the world has known it, somehow Michael and Dwight and Pam and Jim and Phyllis and Meredith and Creed and Angela and everyone else has somehow missed hidden cameras and mikes….much to their chagrin.  Now they’re rethinking every step and every conversation.  Here’s where the white noise confusion comes in.  In their attempt to make a plan to cover their tracks, Angela and Oscar meet in a “private” hallway with a radio.  Angela flips the radio on and assumes {erroneously} that their conversation is confidential.

Understanding How White Noise Works

I can’t tell you how frequently I run into this…not Office episodes per se, but people not really understanding how white noise works.  You can’t just flip a switch and all of a sudden fly under the radar.  That would be nice, but ti simply doesn’t work that way. Let’s talk about how it does.  Because white noise is unstructured sound, it makes it much more difficult for our minds to discern individual words and other structured sounds. To put it another way, white noise “fills in” the sound spectrum and the brain isn’t bothered or distracted by the surrounding conversations.  This achieves speech privacy, but only if placed correctly.  Rather than grab a portable radio and carry it around, only to have it garble what you yourself hear, sound masking systems have speakers purposefully placed so that  speech privacy is actually accomplished.  Thus, placement is crucial for effective masking.

The bottom line is that confidentiality can be had, but not with random noise.  Sound masking is a technology that can work for any facility when properly installed, which is actually pretty affordable and easy to do.

Categories: Tips and Tricks
14
May 2013

5 Tips for Working More Creatively & Productively

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Staring at a blank screen, or even worse a few lame words that I feel married to but should probably divorce with a view for fresher ideas…when I drum my fingers or tap my pencil or check Facebook for the billionth time for a worthy distraction…that is when I know I need some inspiration.  And that inspiration rarely comes in the form of an unfriendly screen, its blank face reminding me of all the work I am not getting done.  I have a sneaking suspicion that I am not alone in my worker’s block.  In fact, based on my social media dawdlings, I am definitely not alone.  Distracted, unmotivated, discouraged people are not exactly productive or creative people.  So, here are 5 tips for getting the creative juices flowing.

5 Tips for Working More Creatively & Productively

  1. You can even choose soothing nature sounds.

    You can even choose soothing nature sounds.

    While your spontaneous side might balk at the idea of a schedule, setting aside specific time to work might help you organize yourself just enough to free your brain to work on something for work.

  2. Take a break.  Staring at a blank screen or a meager document that isn’t writing itself doesn’t usually encourage the creative juices to run.  Take a short walk, grab some coffee or a diet coke, catch some fresh air, take an early lunch…find a way to catch a few moments to yourself to take a breather.  Breaks also give your eyes and muscles time to re-focus and stretch out.
  3. Block out distractions.  For some, it’s as simple as not being able to hear themselves think.  If you don’t have the luxury of having your own office or work space, you can try a sound machine.  There are many varieties, each meant to help the brain tune out unnecessary noise.  There are even nature sound machines that just might help you feel relaxed and more able to tackle more challenging tasks on your to-do list.
  4. Work on something else.  Chances are, you’ll have an “aha!’ moment if you quit obsessing about the task needing to be done.  Plus, you’ll get something else crossed off in the mean time.
  5. Day dream.  In direct contradiction to common sense and even #3, allow your mind to wander.  Giving your mind some freedom is not only well-deserved, it is also linked to better problem-solving results.

The main thing to keep in mind is you are on the expert on you.  You might have an instinct on what might or might not jump start your work day.  Experiment a little at a time, but know yourself and do what works for you.  Here’s to a brilliant “aha!” moment {or several} in your very near future!

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09
May 2013

Sound Masking for Medical Professionals

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Patient Satisfaction

Press Ganey patient satisfaction surveys tell us that there is a clear link between patient satisfaction and their perception of quality of care and profitability.  Even if quality care is provided, if the perception is not there, patients walk away unsatisfied.  Thus, it’s essential to provide both quality care and the perception of care.  Thus, it’s important to serve patients as people and give them what they want because satisfied patients:

  • experience less stress themselves.
  • present less stress to medical staff, resulting in fewer errors and more profit.
  • share their experiences with others and are willing to refer your practice or hospital to their friends and family.

HIPAA Requirements

You know that HIPAA requires medical professionals to safeguard medical records by all reasonable means and that new legislation fines for breaches. Few practices knowingly transmit patients’ medical files, but many unintentionally do just that as a result of sound leaks via the facility itself.

Possible Sound Leaks

  • in a common waiting room
  • through the walls
  • via a telephone conversation
  • among medical staff

Thus, it’s more important than ever to provide private confidentiality that goes beyond a doctor not repeating what other have confided in him or her.   In addition to the fact that new HIPAA regulations allow for fines for breaches, medical professionals should safeguard their practices as well for repeat and referral business, not to mention the joy of knowing patients are as well served as possible.

One way to ensure patient satisfaction is through safeguarding supposedly private conversations with sound masking.  A sound masking system gently hums in the background to provide speech privacy. Speech privacy means that passers-by don’t overhear conversations not meant for them.  As patients themselves don’t hear every conversation or phone call in the hallway or office, they will come to realize that there really is such a thing as speech privacy.

One way to ensure patient satisfaction is through safeguarding supposedly private conversations with sound masking.  A sound masking system gently hums in the background to provide speech privacy. Speech privacy means that passers-by don’t overhear conversations not meant for them.  As patients themselves don’t hear every conversation or phone call in the hallway or office, they will come to realize that there really is such a thing as speech privacy.

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01
May 2013

Sound Masking for Social Breaches of Etiquette

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Two Facebook posts from the past few days on my news feed:

The latest Barnes and Noble shenanigan: the lady next to me is reading her e-mail out loud. Listen, lady- I feel that I should warn you. You are sitting next to an aspiring author. Anything you say can and will be used in a novel if I like it.

Question of etiquette: Forcing people around you to listen to your half of a phone call when they have no way to avoid listening- bad manners or social norm?
The Sonet is the best individual sound machine for individual desktop or home use.

The Sonet is the best individual sound machine for individual desktop or home use.

I was annoyed with my friends and also amused at what people do so blatantly, so publicly.  Interestingly, people do not limit their open conversations to social settings.  Often, maybe even more frequently, they share their personal lives at work, which can be embarrassing, damaging, irritating, and at the very least, inappropriate.  It’s awkward to be on the receiving end of a phone call not intended for you, and it is just as awkward for the person not intending to impart this information but had nowhere else to go to have this conversation.

There are two main solutions for this breach of etiquette:
  1. Sound Machine
  2. Sound Masking System

While one might argue that social norms dictate better habits, we all know that people will be people, which at times, can just be obnoxious.  Thus, in a work environment, your go-to resource is white noise.  That’s because it’s the practical choice for tuning out unwanted noise and still being polite.  White noise comes in two major forms, as noted above.  A sound machine is helpful for individuals battling distractions, while a sound masking system is for larger areas prone to louder office noise.  Both are effective, just for different-sized spaces and numbers of users.

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25
Apr 2013

How Sound Masking Helps Noise in a Real Estate Office

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Noise Problems in a Real Estate Office

There are a number of noise issues in the real estate office.

  • Distraction- too much office noise is distracting while trying to work or make calls
  • Overheard Personal Information- other agents or passers-by can overhear personal information
  • Competing agents- there are times that the agent on the other side of a deal being negotiated are present in the office.
  • Lack of professionalism- similar to distraction, ambient office noise in the background does not sound personal and professional to a client on the other end of a call or in a meeting at the office

From distraction to a lack of confidentiality, conducting business in a way that honors clients and protects their personal affairs has become increasingly difficult.

Sound Masking for Realtors

Case in point: one apartment-locating company, Sigma Relocation, was suffering a staggering loss of productivity and professionalism in their noisy call center.  They had

  • 4500 square feet of open office work space  with half-wall partitions separating 48 agents working a call center.  The co-owners knew that 48 naturally sociable people wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they kept their voices down.

The Solution: Sound Masking & Choosing a System

Rather than rent more space, which seemed to be the only option, the owners decided to give sound masking a shot. Choosing a system and sound masking company was the next step.  After researching and gathering nationwide bids, the team at Sigma chose the VoiceArrest system for a number of reasons:

  1. Speech Privacy Systems is a reputable, trustworthy company.
  2. The VoiceArrest System is the latest technology and offers more speech privacy at lower decibels than older systems.

The VoiceArrest has proven successful.  Not only was the white noise barely noticed, Sigma reported that everyone in the company was thrilled with the VoiceArrest and that there were no more reports of noise issues.  The last result Nick was delighted with was that he could finally fill every desk  since his company continues to expand by 2-3 employees per month.and that there were no more reports of noise issues.  The last result Nick was delighted with was that he could finally fill every desk  since his company continues to expand by 2-3 employees per month.

The result is that real estate agents can work productively in their offices, and their clients can get the best representation possible.  Sound masking is an investment worth making.

 

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23
Apr 2013

Sound Masking: Recovering the Cognitive Cost of Distraction

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The Cost of Disruptions

There are many studies dedicated to showing just how distracted workers are in the office.  The average worker {not just the slacker} is distracted more than two hours every day!  This worker is interrupted over 70 times a day, and those interruptions are costly.

Interrupting a task at a computer user’s focus of attention often leads to a switching of attention to the source of the interruption [9]. Conversations with other people, including face-to-face conversations, phone calls, and talk through walls have been found to contribute to 15-45% of switches away from the task at a user’s focus of attention [2, 3]. Indeed, becoming engaged in conversational dialog may pose greater disruptions to users than alerts delivered within a computing system because social conventions on personal responsiveness may make it difficult to take the time and actions to prepare for the task switch [9, 10].

From social media to cell phones to texting to co-worker chatter, workers are hit seemingly non-stop all day to the point that many walk away frustrated, stressed, and aware that too much time was lost and too many errors were made.  For some, it’s a depressing reality that will be true tomorrow and the next day, and for others, it means extended work days and lost weekends.  For most, this lack of productivity is debilitating and rarely leads to a feeling of job satisfaction.

Sound Masking for Distraction

Interestingly, not all distractions are equally distracting.  In fact, the excerpt above shows us that face-to-face and people-initiated interruptions contribute to up to half of users’ switches of attention, and that a worker is able to ignore a computer alert more easily than a social interruption out of typical social norms- no one wants to be rude after all, even if they are trying to stay focused at work.   Thus, they discipline themselves against their screens but not their co-workers.

This is where sound masking comes in.  Like a white noise generator, aka sound machine, helps people sleep because the low-level background noise {ie white noise} allows their brains to tune out the noise keeping them sleepless, a sound masking system helps workers tune out distracting noise.  Distracting noise in the office is usually conversational in nature, and as we saw above, is difficult to ignore socially.  A few well-placed speakers work wonders for distracted workers because they minimize the office sound track and free up the brain to stay focused on work.

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18
Apr 2013

The ABC’s of Sound Masking

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One evening last week, I was at a friend’s house for a Bible study.  Usually, we all stay together as a mixed-gendered group and discuss the study.  Every month, though, we take a night to break up into a men’s group and a women’s group.  The hosts want to honor each member and any sensitive information we might want to share with out own friends {and not their spouses}.  As such, each group meets in a different room to chat.  I was amused this past week when our host pulled close a linen curtain between the two rooms, as if this decorative, paper-thin piece of cloth was going to provide additional speech privacy.  Once again, I was hit with the realization that the average person does not know the ABC’s of speech privacy, and why would he or she?  So, here’s how it works.

chart_sm1-300x18011 (1)The ABC’s of Sound Masking

Treating an acoustic environment sounds complex, but it is often described as “the ABC’s.”

  • You can Absorb the sound with panels or better ceiling tiles,
  • You can Block the sound by building walls or furniture partitions,
  • and You can Cover the sound by installing a high quality sound masking system.

As you can see from the graphic, not each element contributes an equal part to establishing speech privacy.  This is where the linen curtain comes in.  It would count as a blocking method, though a poor one {most businesses use furniture panels or walls to block rather than thin curtains}.  While absorbing, blocking, and covering work mutually, sound masking {covering} is the most effective of the three.

Sound masking would not be ideal for a home, but is ideal for larger areas like offices or medical facilities, and for two main reasons:

  1. Reduction of distractions.  As mentioned above, workers can’t understand co-worker chatter, so they tend to be less distracted by it and more able to keep their focus on work, make fewer mistakes, and be more productive overall.
  2. Establishment of private confidentiality.  In addition to allowing workers to work better, speech privacy allows for privacy when necessary.

If you or your company are looking for speech privacy, it’s important to know your resources and how each works.

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16
Apr 2013

Sound Masking for Call Centers

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Noisy Call Centers 

A sound masking system is a surprisingly simple fix for noise in call centers.

Have you ever gotten a call from a call center before?  Chances are, you have.  And more than likely, it was not a priority, and you found the quickest way to get off the phone you could.  This is not great news for call centers.  They need your business and getting hung up on is a waste of their time, too.  Many callers feel that if their prospective recipients would just stay on the line and hear their “spiel,” so to speak, they would see the importance and be more sympathetic to the cause or product.

So what’s the problem?  Why do people hang up?  Not everyone is busy, so there must be additional reasons. Interestingly, noise can be the culprit.

  • Background sound, even other callers, can make a customer feel like a number instead of a person.
  • The same background noise can be quite distracting for both customer and caller.
  • When a potential customer hears all this, it only adds to the feeling that their personal information is up for grabs.

Why Sound Masking Is the Best Option

Adding a little background noise actually helps reduce unwanted noise.  With the addition of white noise through a sound masking system, callers can focus on their customers and not be distracted by fellow callers.  As a result, customers feel more served and less like a sales pitch waiting to happen and might be more prone to stay on the phone.

While it’s super-easy to plan for a sound masking system, it’s almost just as easy to add one!  Rather than alter the aesthetics and the functionality of the call center, sound masking systems like the Voice Arrest are installed in the ceiling tiles in a matter of minutes, thus minimizing almost all inconvenience.  The speakers can function in zones and need little, if any, regular adjustments.

Thus, if you have a noisy call center and are looking for a noise solution that doesn’t require totally changing the set-up, rest assured that the VoiceArrest Sound Masking System is an invisible, affordable, effective, and quick fix for any facility.

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09
Apr 2013

Speech Privacy for Confidentiality

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Sound masking works on the principle that when background noise is added to an environment, speech is less intelligible. In technical terms, the “Articulation Index” – a measurement of how intelligible speech is – has been lowered by this change in the signal-to-noise ratio. The “signal” would be, for example, the person speaking, and the “noise” would be the sound masking. A high signal-to-noise ratio means that speech is very intelligible – an amphitheater would have a very high Articulation Index, for example. Based on this principle, scientists and engineers realized that you don’t have to actually stop the sound waves from a speaker’s voice in order to obtain speech privacy, you just have to make the speaker’s words unintelligible. If I can see and hear you but I can’t understand the words that you’re saying, we have effectively established speech privacy.

This is important for two reasons:

  1. Reduction of distractions.  As mentioned above, workers can’t understand co-worker chatter, so they tend to be less distracted by it and more able to keep their focus on work, make fewer mistakes, and be more productive overall.
  2. Establishment of private confidentiality.  In addition to allowing workers to work better, speech privacy allows for privacy when necessary.

Speech Privacy for Confidentiality

10092059-300x20311While for many companies, privacy is a luxury longed for, but not a necessity.  For others, confidentiality is a requirement.  Private confidentiality is essential for:

By no means is this an exhaustive list, but it shows services and facilities prone to privacy breaches that are unacceptable professionally.  Thus, speech privacy becomes as useful as its name implies.

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