Key priorities

List of my key identified priorities

1. Display stand and technical requirements
Design plan complete (3D sketch - to source company to construct, plastics online? phone tomorrow)
Audio mix arranged: with Chris Bailey in his studio (booked date: Saturday 12th November)
Loan of audio equipment from Absolute Music (Chris to contact Andy Leg re: sennheiser headphones etc, will phone this week)

2. Narrative book (include bibliography on back pages, proforma text in front)
Quote from Masters Bookbinding (http://www.mastersbookbinding.co.uk/)
Need final page count
Currently working on layout and content
(expected dates to work on, ideally get as close to completion as possible ready for edit checking: friday 4th - sunday 6th November)
Proforma submission to tutor: 8th November
Bibliography: final update and edit (dates to be completed: end of november booked leave friday 25th - friday 2nd)
Current spec:

Hard back cover (thermo ink or black foiling of lettering / soundwave eps on black matte)
170mm w x 195mm h
Full colour
Estimate 60 pages (tbc)

3. Reflective journals

YR2 lacking July - August update
(expected date to complete: end of november booked leave friday 25th - friday 2nd)
YR1 complete mess - needs tidying in to a coherent mess
(expected date to complete: end of november booked leave friday 25th - friday 2nd)

4. Artefact

I'm still not sure on this. At all.
Trying to stay away from shiny object syndrome that tutor Liz warned me I was falling in to, focusing too much on the product and the technical requirements of the manufacturing etc. Losing the 'spirit' of the idea, what is at the core.

Thought from Dazz on the latest idea literally just starting to think on.
"Evolution of the earplug" using the evolution of man as a starting point for the communication of the idea. All the different earplugs and how they have evolved.

(original website source: evolution of man )

What does it say?
Progression? Boring to fun. Evolution. Iteration of ideas. One idea to the next. Works both for my idea and the project as a whole?
Has a point, but it still doesn't really work, people don't really use or like very much despite all these iterations over the years. What is next (slot at the end for 'headphix')

Hardback bookbinders

Iteration :-( Motion printing are unable to do hardback book binding for my exhibition book, I'm going to need to source another company asap...
Here's the first to try, need a quote and turnaround time, and a final page count!
Masters bookbinding
Priority tonight, get all the page layouts for content in my book finished.

Website banner progress & 3am inspiration

Can't believe I had this image idea for the showcase of my project on the exhibition website, at 3am in bed this morning. I couldn't sleep without drawing it first. Not sure about the random artefact idea, but I imagined a lot of fine glowing led wires (like fiber optic) with the earplugs fed on to the end - lit up like some delicate hedgehog ball of earplugs. Random... but I still need a final artefact for the display stand so I'm making notes of absolutely anything that pops in my head now.

Glad I made the effort to write all this down though, has worked out quite well as I finalised the banner design today and have just submitted to Pete Otto to update on the website.
MA Applied Imagination exhibition website

Email to Pete:

date:30 October 2011 14:02
subject: Re: do you...
mailed-by gmail.com

Hey Pete,
Attached as follows for website:

Horizontal web banner image: 700x263 pix (spec I found in an email from hun) - just made image today after an idea hit me at 3am this morning and I had to grab paper and pen in bed :-)
Teaser text ideas for banner quote: Enjoyable protection? 
Updated research question: "How can hearing protection in nightclubs be a more desirable product?"

Hope this is all okay, thanks muchly Pete.
Take care, Rach.x 

"Enjoyable protection?"

Exhibition display contact?

Plastic Online

Contact for possible sponsorship / construction for exhibit?

Email to Nick Mayne (referred by Liz Breuck, HSL)

mailto:Nick.Mayne@canterbury.gov.uk
date24 October 2011 18:33
subjectReferred by Liz Brueck, HSL (re: hearing protection in music/club​s)
mailed-bygmail.com
hide details 18:33 (1 minute ago)

My name is Rachel Dunscombe and I'm studying for my MA in Applied Imagination at London Arts Central Saint Martins.

My project is specifically targeting hearing protection in nightclubs as this is a heavily identified problem for clubbers, and how a new approach could actually improve the experience of using hearing protection products and give protection a completely new "image".
I have been liaising with Action on Hearing Loss (previously RNID) and they have given me copies of their 'Don't Lose the Music' and 'Like it Loud' campaign reports. I have also had involvement and feedback from other companies including HSL (Health and Safety Laboratory).
To focus on the target audience, I have also been getting feedback from the clubbing community worldwide, and from professional DJs in the industry including Jono and Tony from Above and Beyond, Dennis Shepherd and Tobias Schuh (Cold Blue) who has also circulated my idea across the german trance forums.
My idea for a new type of protection product has had a wide range of very interested and extremely positive feedback, and is also being supported by Liz Brueck (Senior Noise Scientist, Health and Safety Laboratory) who has identified my proposed idea as a breakthrough in the entertainment industry that has not been done before. I am in the process of getting the patent and legal protection in place. I am also receiving support from other named individuals and also the Ministry of Sound in London.

Liz Brueck advised me of how you led a kent wide initiative to control occupational exposure in music and entertainment venues, as well as an initial project in canterbury researching the attitude of people regularly attending loud venues.  She also explained that you contacted local hospitals and medical professionals concerned with hearing to ask whether they were seeing people with hearing problems linked to exposure to music. I was therefore hoping you may have some thoughts or advice for me, or ways in which your findings may be able to assist or interrogate my own research and product idea.

My final exam / graduate exhibition is on the first week of December, therefore if you could get back to me as soon as possible if you are interested and have any available time for a chat, that would be ideal.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks, Rachel.

Email to Andrew McKenna and Jonathon Dicken

to andrew_mckenna@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk,
Jonathon.Dicken@stockton.gov.uk

date 24 October 2011 17:22
subject Referred by Liz Brueck, HSL (re: hearing protection in music/clubs)
mailed-by gmail.com

 hide details 17:22 (3 minutes ago)  
Dear Andrew and Jonathon,

My name is Rachel Dunscombe and I'm studying for my MA in Applied Imagination at London Arts Central Saint Martins.

My project is specifically targeting hearing protection in nightclubs as this is a heavily identified problem for clubbers, and how a new approach could actually improve the experience of using hearing protection products and give protection a completely new "image".
I have been liaising with Action on Hearing Loss (previously RNID) and they have given me copies of their 'Don't Lose the Music' and 'Like it Loud' campaign reports. I have also had involvement and feedback from other companies including HSL (Health and Safety Laboratory).
To focus on the target audience, I have also been getting feedback from the clubbing community worldwide, and from professional DJs in the industry including Jono and Tony from Above and Beyond, Dennis Shepherd and Tobias Schuh (Cold Blue) who has also circulated my idea across the german trance forums.
My idea for a new type of protection product has had a wide range of very interested and extremely positive feedback, and is also being supported by Liz Brueck (Senior Noise Scientist, Health and Safety Laboratory) who has identified my proposed idea as a breakthrough in the entertainment industry that has not been done before. I am in the process of getting the patent and legal protection in place. I am also receiving support from other named individuals and also the Ministry of Sound in London.

Liz Brueck advised me of a project that you both led across the Tees Valley local authorities to raise the awareness of the risks to hearing in music and entertainment venues. to hearing in music and entertainment venues. I understand that this report has not been released outside the local government but that I may be able to request a copy of this document via Andrew. I was really hoping you could supply me with a copy of this report, it would be absolutely invaluable to support my research and my project. If I could have a brief chat to either of you about it too so you could pass on your thoughts, that would be fantastic.

My final exam / graduate exhibition is on the first week of December, therefore if you could get back to me as soon as possible and ideally a copy of the report by early november that would be ideal.

Please get in touch if you wish to know more about either myself or my project first.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks, Rachel.

Response from Sam (Ministry of Sound)

 from Sam Barlow sbarlow@ministryofsound.com 
to Chris Thoms <cthoms@ministryofsound.com>

cc "cwrmori@gmail.com" <cwrmori@gmail.com>

date 24 October 2011 17:19
subject FW: sound recording at ministry for MA
mailed-by ministryofsound.com
 Important mainly because of your interaction with messages in the conversation.

 hide details 17:19 (10 minutes ago)  
Hi Chris, an ex student of mine Rachel, is writing her dissertation and would love to do some Sound level recordings when the club is open and trading. The details are below.

Chris, can you please get in touch with Rachel to discuss whether this is possible and if so the logistics.

Chris meet Rachel
Rachel, Chris

Love to all

Sam


Sam Barlow
DJ Academy Co-ordinator
Ministry of Sound

Email to Sam Barlow @ Ministry of Sound

Hi Sam, 

I'll just re-iterate the details for you.

As you may remember, I'm studying for my MA in Applied Imagination at London Arts Central Saint Martins, and my project is specifically targeting hearing protection in nightclubs as this is a heavily identified problem for clubbers, and how a new approach could actually improve the experience of using hearing protection products and give protection a completely new "image". 

I have been liaising with Action on Hearing Loss (previously RNID) and had involvement and feedback from other companies. 

I have also been getting feedback from the clubbing community worldwide, and from professional DJs in the industry including Jono and Tony from Above and Beyond, Dennis Shepherd and Tobias Schuh (Cold Blue) who has also circulated my idea across the german trance forums.

My idea for a product has had wide range of very interested feedback, and has also been identified by HSL (Health and Safety Laboratory) as a breakthrough idea that has not been done before and I am in the process of getting the patent and legal protection in place.

For the purposes of my graduate exhibition display which is during the first week of December (5th - 8th), I need some recordings of the peak sound levels in a nightclub.

Specifically the different frequencies of communication between a high capacity of people at the same time as the background noise of anything from 100 - 130 dB of music. Basically an audio sample of all the sounds of people and music in the peak time of clubbing. Therefore could you please point me me in the right direction for who I could speak to at ministry in regards to a possible special arrangement for popping in to the club when it's a very busy night, and I will bring some professional recording equipment (loaned from one of my backers). 

I understand the importance of the clubbing atmosphere of course, and the equipment wouldn't be at all intrusive. A very small microphone wire, a little box in my hand and things like that. I would probably be in and out in less than half an hour as it won't take too long to get noise levels from the dancefloor, the bar area etc. But for the best results in what I need the recording for, it would need to be as busy as possible. 

My project has backing from Liz Brueck (senior noise scientist at HSL) aswell as a few other named individuals in the industry, and I'm more than happy to talk further to someone at Ministry of Sound about my requirements and my project if you'd like me to pop in first or to sign an agreement to the purposes of the recording etc.

If possible I would need to arrange this visit to Ministry in the next two or three weeks at the absolute most. I have a producer and studio in London already lined up for processing the audio file before finalising for my graduate exhibition of which the first night is december 5th (examination) before public view (7th - 8th). 

Many thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.

Rach. 

Email to Soo James (Technical Leader Acoustics) @ Qinetiq

Dear Soo,

My name is Rachel Dunscombe, I was forwarded your details by Tom Gunston, he said he has already spoken to you about me.
I am doing my MA at London Arts Central Saint Martins and my project is specifically targeting the problem of hearing protection in the entertainment industry (specifically nightclubs) and I have been researching towards developing an new type of hearing protection product. As figures support this problem by showing that young people experiencing hearing damage from prolonged exposure to loud music is steadily on the increase.

Tom advised me to contact you as you may have some very helpful advice for me, as some of your projects have a slight overlap with what I am doing.
I've also had some very useful advice from Liz Brueck at HSL in Buxton who has said she can see that my project / idea would be absolutely invaluable in a commercial and military environment, and that I should get a patent underway and appropriate legal protection as my idea has not been done before and is a current gap in the market. I am currently in the process of sorting out this application.

I was wondering when you might be available in the next week or two for a possible meet up if you have time for me to pop over and visit you? I would appreciate any feedback you have to offer and it would be very interesting to compare notes with your projects.
I have a very limited amount of time now I'm afraid as my final graduate exhibition and exam is in just under 7 weeks.
So ideally I would need to see you quite soon, beginning of next month probably at the latest if this could also work for you?
Please do drop me a mail with your availability, and hopefully we can go from there :-)

Many thanks and look forward to hearing from you,
Rachel Dunscombe. 

12 word question and proforma

I'm not good at summarising, at all (writing short concise summaries) this is always something I really *really* struggle with, I am very word heavy, both in writing and in talking. So inspired by tutorial with Liz a couple of weeks back, explaining the importance of keeping it clear and simple, concentrating on the spirit of exactly *what*it is that you are doing, I challenged myself to write a question and WWHI proforma each with a maximum of 12 words.
This is my new summary:

QUESTION: How can hearing protection in clubs be a more desirable product?

WHAT: Addressing the increasing rise of long term hearing damage in young clubbers
WHY: Developments in technology enable people to listen louder for longer. 
HOW: Incorporate hearing protection into a more enjoyable product with improved audibility.
IF: Redefine image of hearing protection, expand desired concept to commercial / military.

Email to Rebecca Hyde - Motion Printing

Are you free at all later on today (after 4) / or some time tomorrow? 

Was hoping to pop over to see you for some printing chatter in regards to the graduate exhibition I've got coming up that I spoke to you about before, now in about 6 weeks. I've got some definite figures for what the exhibition needs as decisions have finally been made - so some quotes of what you could offer for us would be great, and also some queries about a professional book I need printing for my own stand. Probably only 3-4 copies at a maximum but as I need it to look *really* special I'm betting there will be a dangerously premium price, but hoping to discuss further first :-) I will also be definitely going with the thermo double sided business cards that you gave me a good price on last meeting :-) so wondering if it's possible to get any thermo ink on something like a hard back cover so they can match..

Anyway, let me know when is good for you - if you can spare any time?

Many thanks, 

Rachel. 

Question iteration - the spirit of it!

How can hearing protection in clubs be a more desirable product?
How can new technology be used to improve hearing protection in clubs?

Don't Lose the Music - 2010 statistics

Received from Chris White today. Awaiting the 2011 results next.

(Email from Chris White, Action on Hearing Loss)

Hi Rachel,

Here's last year's results. I will give you 2011 when I can, it's just

we can't send them out just at the minute.

Thanks,

Chris

Don’t Lose the Music questionnaires

1072 people between the ages of 7 and 68 completed the Don’t Lose the Music questionnaires over the summer festival season. Questions asked related to music listening habits including ones asking whether or not the individuals protect their hearing or would wear earplugs when at noisy gigs and clubs and how long they spent listening to their MP3 players per day. The information was analysed as a whole and also broken down into age brackets (7-15 year olds, 16-24 year olds, 25-35 year olds and over 35’s) to see how attitudes and behaviour changed between different age groups.

Over 87% of those interviewed had noticed ringing in their ears after going to a gig or a club. Perhaps more shocking is that more than 90% of the 16-24 year olds had experienced this, which is higher than the over 35’s who had, despite the latter being at least 10 years older and with presumably more visits to clubs and gigs. More worrying was the fact that 77% of those 15 and under (including the youngest participant of 7) had felt this ringing in their ears, despite the fact that they were not even old enough to go to clubs and some gigs!

Despite the high numbers of people who had felt ringing in their ears after a night out, only 38% of people had ever consciously done anything to protect their ears at gigs (this includes anything from using earplugs to moving away from the speakers and even putting their hands over their ears). Also, 21% of the people that had taken steps to protect their hearing still would not wear free earplugs if they were given out at clubs and gigs and would rather take other measures, such as moving away from speakers or leaving the room.

When asked about earplugs it was clear that there were many misconceptions about them. The participants were asked whether they would wear earplugs if they were given out at clubs and gigs with 57% of those interviewed saying that they would, 38% would not and 5% were unsure as they did not know enough about earplugs. Out of the many reasons people gave for why they would not wear free earplugs, there were several obvious main themes. Out of 245 reasons, 92 (38%) of them related to fashion, image and the idea that it is not ‘cool’ to be seen wearing earplugs. This shows that people are more inclined to worry about their image than their hearing. The second most popular reason people would not wear earplugs if they were given out for free related to misconceptions of the effect of earplugs and the idea that wearing earplugs would ruin the music. 62 (25%) of those asked said that wearing earplugs would ‘defeat the point’, ‘muffle the sound’ or make them ‘unaware of their surroundings’. This perhaps shows that people are unaware of the different types of earplugs that are on offer and are dismissing using them based on experiences of using the lowest quality ones available.

Whether or not people would wear free earplugs seems to relate to age. 62% of the over 35’s had consciously made efforts to protect their hearing and 66% would wear earplugs if they were given out at gigs and clubs compared to the 54% of 16-24 year olds who would wear them. However, interestingly, only 53% of the 25-34 year olds would wear free earplugs, and 68% of the 7-15 year olds would, though this may change as they get older, as the youngest participants were probably there with a parent or older relative who would perhaps have influenced their answers.

When asked to rate how important their hearing is to them out of 10 (compared with other health concerns such as safe sex and wearing sunscreen), many people rated it highly.

The average rating was 7.7 out of 10, with 33% of people giving it the highest rating of 10 out of 10. However, despite the fact that hearing was regarded as important, 57% of the people who gave it the highest rating (10 out of 10) had never consciously done anything to protect their hearing, and 36% of them still would not wear earplugs if they were offered out for free at gigs or clubs. 5 people rated their hearing as 0 out of 10 in importance. All of those people were between the ages of 16 and 24; the target group for this campaign.

77% of the people questioned had an MP3 player which they listened to every day. The average time people spent listening to their MP3 players was 2 hours 25 minutes daily, though more than 20 people admitted to listening to their MP3 players for over 10 hours a day. Fifteen of those people (68%) were between the ages of 16 and 24, which was perhaps not surprising, but still worrying, as they will probably continue listening to their MP3 players this extensively, meaning that they will be exposed to this level of continual noise for many years at a young age.

Just under 50% of the people surveyed knew that there is currently no cure for noise induced hearing loss or tinnitus, which means that just over 50% of people did not realise this and were perhaps being more careless about their hearing as they thought that any hearing loss could be cured. Well over 50% of the 7-15 year olds also thought that there would be a cure for this type of hearing loss or tinnitus.

A massive 83% of the people interviewed did not know that the European Parliament will be setting a default volume for MP3 players in the future. 

Contact from Tom re: research meeting at Qinetiq

Hi Rach,

I mentioned you to Soo James (not Sue) at QinetiQ Farnborough when I last spoke to her a few weeks ago. Her group is the ‘hearing protection’ group at QinetiQ. They have worked on hearing protection for many military projects including active hearing protection systems and measurement of earplug performance. She is friendly and happy to have a chat. I am on site on Monday and will drop by her office if I get the chance.

Her details are:

Soo James
Technical Leader Acoustics, IAS Manpower
Tel: 01252 392569, Mobile: 07825633765
email: shjames@QinetiQ.com
www.QinetiQ.com

There may be some overlap between your idea and some of her projects. It may be worth mentioning confidentiality at the start of the meeting in case there is anything either of you want to be careful about sharing.

Cheers,

Tom

Reflective journal and question

Epic event...
Reflective journal for 2011 is finally for the first time... *up top date* :-) feels very strange writing directly in to my diary the same day as the actual entry. I mustn't let this get out of date. So then I can concentrate on completing July and August in the previous journal.
Also a good session of refining my question tonight. Clarifying and condensing to concentrate on the key elements, as explained by my tutor Liz in tutorial last week.
A good exercise to do, a question and WWHI each with a maximum of 12 words. On the agenda and will then email to tutor group.

Email to Tutor and group

Hey everyone,

I have received some key feedback from one of my main external

collaborators, Tobias Schuh who is an international electronic

DJ (Anjunabeats artist) and I got some fantastic comments from him by

sending him an actual feedback Q&A document to fill in and return to

me. Until I did this, he said he wasn't sure what comments would be

helpful to me in feedback so if I had any specific questions he could

answer that would be easier for him to respond. Although I must admit,

the feedback makes me want to make changes to the product or see if I

can, but it's too late now surely - it makes me panic that it will be

impossible to have a clear product idea to communicate in an

exhibition in 7 weeks. I am *seriously* concerned I must admit :-(

Anyway, Tobi is also german and struggles to write in english despite

being able to speak and read it fairly easily, so the feedback is in

german with the translation beneath, thanks to Pete Otto for sticking

around after the exhibition meeting last night and translating for me

:-)

Tobi has been a fantastic source, his international fame and fan base has

been getting me a great amount of awareness being raised in germany /

german electronic music forums. If anyone is good with german, this

link is my project on the german trance forum - it's all about my

project that Tobi has been getting reactions and responses on,

something I must also get translated!

http://www.tranceforum.info/wbboard/thread.php?threadid=20618

If anyone wants to steal the word document as a template to send to

external sources for feedback, please feel free :-) I've found it

really helpful.

Really panicking, Rach.

Tobi translation

Huge thanks to Pete (Otto) for sparing the time and helping out, got Tobi's feedback translated after the exhibition meeting last night. Meeting was pretty successful, relieved I wasn't running it solo this time as I really felt... hollow yesterday. Still do if I'm honest.

IN YOUR OWN WORDS (BRUTALLY HONEST PLEASE): HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS AND REACTION 

TO THE PROPOSED IDEA BEHIND THE STUDENT’S PROJECT ONCE IT WAS EXPLAINED TO YOU?

I was surprised and mostly delighted that someone engages with this

important topic.

I also have a lot of respect for the courage that it takes to accept

such a challenge because it is a new development of which you

initially won't know if it works the way you want.

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS/FEELINGS ABOUT THE ARTEFACT (visual graphic presentation) 

AND HOW WELL DID IT COMMUNICATE THE PROJECT/IDEA TO YOU? 

I like the idea that the product is presented as an optical accessory.

But maybe one should incorporate the social aspect optically in to the

product. Because at the moment it appears that as a club visitor

wearing 'headphix' you party on your own. Perhaps one could also try

to depict the core idea of the product graphically, so that one can

recognise at once what the usage is (for people who don't like to read

text). Also, on the picture it doesn't come out (doesn't do justice to

the product)

WHO DO YOU FEEL THIS PROJECT / IDEA COULD BENEFIT AND WHY? 

Definitely, if it really works as it is imagined, it could be a

important tool in many different life situations. Not only in a club

or concerts, but also for every day use whenever one is exposed to

noise or uncomfortable in the acoustic environment. One can tune the

noise around personal needs. So in theory, a genial idea that could be

very successful.

IN YOUR ESTIMATION-

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT STRENGTHS AND/OR FLAWS OF THIS PROJECT/IDEA AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS?

Strengths.

It is an innovative product, almost a gap in the market if you ignore

conventional ear protectors. An opportunity to tune the product around

your own needs and pain thresholds.

Potential issues.

Can a little device in your ear deliver the same sound / listening

experience as a big PA system in a club?

Would the sound not generally be worse eventually through latency

issues (the PA signal and ear piece signal not synchronise, phase

cancelling and phaser effect)

My concerns are also that it might be difficult to sensitise a normal

club visitor to the topic and also to encourage him/her to attract

attention with a product.

Feedback from Tobi

Received my feedback today from Tobi, I have asked Pete Otto on my course if he'd be happy to translate Tobi's feedback for me as it is in german. Here's hoping. 

Leaving for london shortly... 'final decisions' all cohort exhibition meeting to organise. 

I must soon step back from project managing / exhibition duties... the toll is becoming too high for me to maintain living for much longer. The reason in fact why my project has ground to a halt this month and my diary and blog have all suddenly stopped... I am so close to giving up now. Even tutorials last week as first day back to uni, I didn't feel any hope inside.   

External collaborator project / artefact feedback

FEEDBACK SUMMARY 

For use by external collaborators to supply key feedback or comments to the student

• Please spare a few moments to write your memorable feedback and this will greatly help the reflection and development of my project. This will also help me to document the process of verification via external review, as this is of great importance for assessment and examination. Thank you! 

FEEDBACK TO (STUDENT): Rachel Dunscombe FEEDBACK FROM (EXTERNAL COLLABORATOR): Tobias Schuh JOB TITLE / COMPANY: DJ / Producer  DATE: 10/14/2011

IN YOUR OWN WORDS (BRUTALLY HONEST PLEASE): HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS AND REACTION TO THE PROPOSED IDEA BEHIND THE STUDENT’S PROJECT ONCE IT WAS EXPLAINED TO YOU?

Ich war überrascht und vor allem erfreut, dass sich jemand mit diesem wichtigen Thema beschäftigt. Ich hatte zudem großen Respekt vor dem Mut, den es erfordert, eine solche Herausforderung auf sich zu nehmen, denn es ist ja eine neue Entwicklung, von der man erstmal nicht wissen kann, ob sie so funktionieren wird, wir man es möchte.

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS/FEELINGS ABOUT THE ARTEFACT (visual graphic presentation) AND HOW WELL DID IT COMMUNICATE THE PROJECT/IDEA TO YOU?

Mir gefällt die Idee, dass das Produkt als optisches Assessoire präsentiert wird. Man sollte vielleicht aber noch den Gesellschafts-Aspekt optisch mit einbinden. Denn momentan wirkt es noch so, als würde man als Club-Besucher mit Headphix alleine feiern. Vielleicht könnte man noch versuchen, die Kern-Idee des Produkts grafisch darzustellen, so dass man auf einen Blick sieht, worin der Nutzen besteht. (Für die Menschen, die nicht gerne Texte lesen). Auch auf dem Foto kommt noch nicht zur Geltung, um welch starkes Tool es sich tatsächlich handelt.

WHO DO YOU FEEL THIS PROJECT / IDEA COULD BENEFIT AND WHY?

Definitiv! Wenn es wirklich so funktionieren wird, wie die Idee es vorsieht, kann es in vielen Lebenssituationen ein wichtiges Tool sein. Nicht nur im Club oder auf Konzerten, sondern auch im Alltag - wann immer man Lärmbelastungen ausgesetzt ist bzw sich in der akkustischen Umgebung nicht wohlfühlt, kann man die Geräusche nach seinen persönlichen Bedürfnissen anpassen. In der Theorie eine geniale Idee, die sehr erfolgreich werden kann.

IN YOUR ESTIMATION-

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT STRENGTHS AND/OR FLAWS OF THIS PROJECT/IDEA AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS?

Stärken:

Es ist ein innovatives Produkt, fast eine Marktlücke (wenn man von üblichem Gehörschutz absieht).

Die Möglichkeit, das Produkt auf die eigenen Bedürfnisse und Schmerzgrenzen einstellen zu können.

Mögliche Probleme:

Kann ein kleiner Hörer im Ohr das gleiche Sound-/Hör-Erlebnis liefern wie ein großes PA-System im Club?

Wird der Sound allgemein nicht eventuell durch Latenz-Probleme (PA-Signal und Ohrhörer-Signal nicht synchron, Phasen-Auslöschungen, Phaser-Effekt) verschlechtert?

Meine Bedenken sind auch, dass es schwierig sein wird, den gewöhnlichen Club-Besucher für dieses Thema zu sensibilisieren, sowie ihn dazu zu ermutigen mit diesem Produkt eventuell optisch aufzufallen.

working on submission to tutor

• Your research question.
• A progress summary (650 maximum) - including details of artefact iterations since June; the key new knowledge generated by the project to date; your intentions for your next steps during October/November.
• Your bibliography and resource list.
• Your role in the Degree Show project and your input to date (40 words max)