We now design sound on an unprecedented global scale. Our big technology platforms are also massive sound delivery platforms and few people are more qualified to discuss the subject of computer and notification sound design than our guest on this episode, Matthew Bennett.
With over 12 years of experience as Director of Sound + Sensory Design at Microsoft, Matthew created and shaped the sound of Microsoft’s major global products and platforms (Windows, Office, Outlook, Skype, Teams, Cortana, Hololens, Xbox, Surface, and Azure). He created the Microsoft Sound + Sensory Design Program to lead the development of the next-generation sound design language for the Microsoft ecosystem.
These sounds create a new kind of audio ecosystem, the global soundscape of technology. As an example, consider that the Windows 10 platform exists on more than one billion devices. If each device plays six system sounds per day (a conservative average), that works out to more than eight billion seconds—the equivalent of 253 years—of new sound being put into the world each day. And this number doesn’t include older versions of Windows, the other big platforms, or the millions of additional apps, devices, and products that produce sound.
Environmental sound affects every aspect of our lives—those humble little platform sounds are putting a lot of emotional energy into the world. What was the last device sound you heard and how did it make you feel? If your response is like that of many people, we need to shift the way we think about the global soundscape of technology.
To imagine what a more beautiful and functional global soundscape of technology could be like, think about the sound of the rainforest, an immersive sonic environment dense with useful information. It is also beautiful, harmonious, and calm. More than just a soundscape, this is a healthy, sustainable acoustic ecology. We should settle for nothing less in the sounds of technology that shape our products, our environments, and our daily lives".
The above thoughts are from a paper, written by Matthew, titled - 'Tuning the Sound of Technology - Cutting through the noise to design better digital experiences. If you feel bombarded by your device notifications and wish for a better, less intrusive, less alarming way, then tune-in to this episode to discover more.
Episode 46: Soundscaping for Success - Solutions For a Noisy World - With Evan Benway, Managing Director at Moodsonic, and Ethan Bourdeau, Sound Concept Lead at IWBI
Episode 45: LOUD IN THE USA! - The Dangers of a Noisy Planet - with Rick Neitzel - Full Professor of Environmental Health Sciences and Global Public Health at University of Michigan
Episode 44: I Heard it Through the Grapevine - with Dan Belmont, Wine Ambassador at Liebherr UK
Episode 43: Find Your Quiet Place - with Gregory Scott - Founder at SoundPrint
Episode 42: Eco-Friendly Acoustics- Creating spaces that are kind to our ears and to our planet!
Episode 41: And The Winner Is... The Sound of the Year Awards 2021
Episode 40: Quiet in the Kitchen with Magimix and Cake-Boy
Episode 39: Quiet Deliveries - NAS (UK) Silent Approach™️ Programme
Episode 38: Empowering the Building Industry to Write Healthier Specifications
Episode 37: The Quiet Mark & NBS Partnership - Prioritising Wellbeing in Buildings
Episode 36: The Top 10 priorities for our Homes in 2022 - Jane Blakeborough - Research Director at Trend-Monitor
Episode 35 - Lobbying for Healthy Homes & Sustainable Building Design - Daniel Slade Policy & Projects Manager, TCPA, and Cat Hoad - Interior Design Declares Steering Committee Member
Episode 34 - MODULAR SPACES FOR THE NEW ERA OF OFFICE DESIGN - Jouko Urpolahti General Manager, Vetrospace Ltd.
Episode 33 - SPECIFYING FOR ACOUSTIC COMFORT, with Jeff Fullerton, Acoustics Department Manager - Building Science Solutions at Intertek
Episode 32: SHOPPING FOR SOUND - Vicki Mantle - Muffle
Episode 31: THE SCHOOL OF NOISE - Dan Mayfield - Head ofThe School of Noise
Episode 30: Civic, Community & Culture - Well-being focused acoustical design - Adam Cossey - Hawkins\Brown
Episode 29: LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACOUSTICS! - Film Studio Acoustic Design - Barry Jobling - Hoare Lea
Episode 28: SUSTAINABLE SEPTEMBER with Quiet Mark‘s Acoustics Academy
Episode 27: REDUCING NOISE POLLUTION IN CONSTRUCTION - Peter Wilson - Echo Barrier
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
The No-Frills Teacher Podcast
Heal, Survive & Thrive!
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast