Alaa Algargoosh
@umich.edu
University of Michigan
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Alaa Algargoosh
Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
The emotional impact of sound depends on its characteristics. Given that such characteristics can be modified when the sound is played in a room, it is crucial to examine how the acoustic characteristic of a room can impact the emotional experience. Researchers have investigated the links between the acoustic parameters of concert halls and the emotional impact; however, the applicability of such links to other building types, such as worship spaces, needs to be studied. In a previous study, the author analyzed the emotional response to the acoustic environments of worship spaces using self-report and physiological indicators. This paper builds on the previous work by analyzing the acoustic parameters of the buildings from the previous study and establishing links between such parameters and the emotional response indicators. It also analyzes the frequency domain to study the role of the interaction between the room and sound source in enhancing the emotional experience and introduces resonance quality (Q) and resonance width (Δf) as important parameters to consider in room acoustics. The results showed the significance of considering frequencies < 1000 Hz in analyzing the acoustics of the studied worship spaces and demonstrated that amplifying the dominant frequency range of the sound source was linked to enhancing the emotional experience.
Alaa Algargoosh, Mojtaba Navvab, and John Granzow
Elsevier BV
Alaa Algargoosh, Babak Soleimani, Sile O’Modhrain, and Mojtaba Navvab
SAGE Publications
People’s interactions with the environment shape their experiences. Thus, understanding these interactions is critical to enhancing human well-being. Aural attributes play a significant role in shaping the perception of space in addition to visual attributes. It is well known that sounds evoke an emotional response, but less is known about how the acoustic characteristics of environments reinforce such an emotional impact. By adopting virtual reality as a platform for recreating 3D sounds and 360° visuals of built environments of worship spaces as case studies, this study aims to investigate the influence of the acoustic environment considering audiovisual congruency on enhancing the human experience through self-report and physiological response analysis. It also examines the role of cultural background in terms of familiarity with the acoustic environment. The convergent mixed-methods approach, merging both quantitative and qualitative analysis, provides a deep understanding of the role of the acoustic environment in enhancing the auditory experience. The results show that the acoustic environment and audiovisual congruency amplify the intensity of the emotional impact, and the amplification of the impact can vary depending on the acoustic environment of the building. They also reveal that familiarity with sound and acoustic characteristics can increase this impact.
Alaa S. Algargoosh, Hany Hossam Eldien, and Hala El-Wakeel
ASA
Acoustic diffusers are important components in enhancing the quality of room acoustics. This paper investigates a new type of 2D diffusers obtained by the Cymatics phenomena. Cymatics is the study of sound and vibration made visible, typically on the surface of a plate, diaphragm or membrane. Four shapes of the diffusers were designed by the Cymatic shapes and modeled by using a quadratic residue sequence. The polar response of the diffusers was measured using DIRAC software. Polar response results were generally consistent with expectations. This type of diffusers can generate a uniform polar response over the frequency range we are interested in (400Hz- 4000Hz). It is found that this type of acoustic diffusers can be used to maintain the acoustic energy in a room, and at the same time can treat unwanted echoes and reflections by scattering sound waves in many directions.