Sounding Off: Our Blog
Thoughts, insights, and perspectives on the latest news, trends, and issues regarding architectural acoustics, environmental and industrial noise and vibration, and audiovisual systems design.
Healthcare AV for Medical Simulation
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Realistic medical simulation environments for healthcare education are important in teaching hospitals and professional training programs.
Distance Learning
Distance learning for K-12 and University education in a formal or at home setting is more of a need today than ever before.
Active Learning
When Active Learning comes up, the focus is usually on implementing technology in the classroom, but there’s more to it.
Assisted Listening Systems
Assisted Listening Systems are an ADA requirement, but new technology developments go beyond compliance to improved user-experience.
Create a Quieter Hospital Floor
A quieter hospital floor provides a more restful healing environment. Healthcare studies show how increased noise levels interrupt sleep, and patient satisfaction surveys consistently rank “quiet at night” among the lowest scores.
Why Delayed Bid Strategies are Worth the Wait!
It seems to defy conventional wisdom. You would think, the longer you wait, the more expensive things become. Not so much in the AV world. In fact, at ABD Engineering, our delayed-bid strategy typically results in technology upgrades and lower costs for AV projects. Here’s why.
Are You Designing your Audiovisual Infrastructure with 2050 in Mind?
You should be. The days of AV technology as an afterthought, retrofitted to architectural spaces, are over. Today, forward thinking architects, engineers, and building owners are striving to fully integrate intelligent audiovisual system technologies into building design and infrastructure with maximum flexibility and adaptability in mind.
What Do Acoustical Consultants Actually Do?
As an acoustical consultant, I often have trouble answering the “what do you do?” question. The basic answer is quite easy, but unless the person asking the question is an architect, performing artist, or involved in music, they often don’t have a clue what the job entails. I run into this just about anytime I meet and get to know someone new. People genuinely want to know and understand what I do for a living but sometimes I’ve had a hard time communicating my trade. So what exactly does an acoustical consultant do, anyway?
How Does Acoustical Absorption Work?
Walk outside on a cold winter day just after the first big snowfall and you can hear the hush in the air. Everything sounds different because that hush in the air is the snow absorbing sound. Now, compare that to walking into a gym where the sound bounces around and lingers in the room.
Absorbing Vs. Blocking Sound
When sound transfers from one space to another, what’s the most effective treatment? Does fiberglass insulation stop sound? Advice from professional acoustical consultants on the dos and don’t of sound absorption versus noise isolation.