Sound level measurements using smartphone "apps": Useful or inaccurate?
Many recreational activities are accompanied by loud concurrent sounds and decisions regarding the hearing hazards associated with these activities depend on accurate sound measurements. Sound level meters (SLMs) are designed for this purpose, but these are technical instruments that are not typical...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Noise and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2014;volume=16;issue=72;spage=251;epage=256;aulast=Nast |
| _version_ | 1819240220792455168 |
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| author | Daniel R Nast William S Speer Colleen G Le Prell |
| author_facet | Daniel R Nast William S Speer Colleen G Le Prell |
| author_sort | Daniel R Nast |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many recreational activities are accompanied by loud concurrent sounds and decisions regarding the hearing hazards associated with these activities depend on accurate sound measurements. Sound level meters (SLMs) are designed for this purpose, but these are technical instruments that are not typically available in recreational settings and require training to use properly. Mobile technology has made such sound level measurements more feasible for even inexperienced users. Here, we assessed the accuracy of sound level measurements made using five mobile phone applications or "apps" on an Apple iPhone 4S, one of the most widely used mobile phones. Accuracy was assessed by comparing application-based measurements to measurements made using a calibrated SLM. Whereas most apps erred by reporting higher sound levels, one application measured levels within 5 dB of a calibrated SLM across all frequencies tested. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:04:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41fb456f043b48dfae3d5cd34ee9fcda |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1463-1741 1998-4030 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:04:33Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Noise and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-41fb456f043b48dfae3d5cd34ee9fcda2022-12-21T17:44:12ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsNoise and Health1463-17411998-40302014-01-01167225125610.4103/1463-1741.140495Sound level measurements using smartphone "apps": Useful or inaccurate?Daniel R NastWilliam S SpeerColleen G Le PrellMany recreational activities are accompanied by loud concurrent sounds and decisions regarding the hearing hazards associated with these activities depend on accurate sound measurements. Sound level meters (SLMs) are designed for this purpose, but these are technical instruments that are not typically available in recreational settings and require training to use properly. Mobile technology has made such sound level measurements more feasible for even inexperienced users. Here, we assessed the accuracy of sound level measurements made using five mobile phone applications or "apps" on an Apple iPhone 4S, one of the most widely used mobile phones. Accuracy was assessed by comparing application-based measurements to measurements made using a calibrated SLM. Whereas most apps erred by reporting higher sound levels, one application measured levels within 5 dB of a calibrated SLM across all frequencies tested.http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2014;volume=16;issue=72;spage=251;epage=256;aulast=NastAppnoisesmartphonesound level meter |
| spellingShingle | Daniel R Nast William S Speer Colleen G Le Prell Sound level measurements using smartphone "apps": Useful or inaccurate? Noise and Health App noise smartphone sound level meter |
| title | Sound level measurements using smartphone "apps": Useful or inaccurate? |
| title_full | Sound level measurements using smartphone "apps": Useful or inaccurate? |
| title_fullStr | Sound level measurements using smartphone "apps": Useful or inaccurate? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sound level measurements using smartphone "apps": Useful or inaccurate? |
| title_short | Sound level measurements using smartphone "apps": Useful or inaccurate? |
| title_sort | sound level measurements using smartphone apps useful or inaccurate |
| topic | App noise smartphone sound level meter |
| url | http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2014;volume=16;issue=72;spage=251;epage=256;aulast=Nast |
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