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Richard W. Huey

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Publications by Richard W. Huey (bibliography)

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1994
 
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Huey, Richard W., Buckley, Dawn S. and Lerner, Neil D. (1994): Audible Performance of Smoke Alarm Sounds. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 38th Annual Meeting 1994. pp. 147-151.

This paper concerns a study aimed at selection of alarm sounds with improved audible performance characteristics for older listeners over current conventional residential smoke detectors. Many current residential smoke detectors possess alarms that have their primary frequency peak in the 4000 Hz region of the audible spectrum. Additionally, many of these alarms are constant instead of providing temporal modulation of the signal. This study analyzed a variety of alternative sounds for selection as a better choice for an "age sensitive" smoke alarm signal. The study presented a battery of candidate sounds to pairs of subjects aged 65 and older with varying levels of hearing impairment (O to 45 dB) in their own homes to see which sounds performed best in terms of detection, localization, and perceived attention-getting value. Subjects were placed in various location- and masking-based conditions within their homes during listening periods and subjected to sounds played at a constant level. A computerized system collected response data as the battery of stimuli was presented. The data showed a fairly predictable positive trend in detection and localization performance level as the frequency of the stimuli decreased from 4000 Hz to 500 Hz. The data also showed that pulsed signals were more detectable than steady alarms.

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1991
 
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Lerner, Neil D. and Huey, Richard W. (1991): Residential Fire Safety Needs of Older Adults. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting 1991. pp. 172-176.

 
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Changes to this page (author)

18 Feb 2010: Modified
26 Jun 2007: Added
26 Jun 2007: Added

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May 19

Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.

-- Paul Rand, 1997

 
 

Featured chapter

Read the fascinating history of Wearable Computing, told by its father, Steve Mann

Read Steve's chapter !

 
 

Help us help you!