TECHNICAL Physchological and COMMITTEE Physiological Acoustics REPORT Members of the Psychological and Physiological Acoustics Technical Committee have varied interests related to all aspects of hearing. Andrew J. Oxenham The Technical Committee (TC) on Psychological and Physiological Acoustics Postal: (P&P) consists of scientists, clinicians, and engineers whose interests converge around the topic of hearing. Committee members in academia come from a wide Department of Psychology variety of departments and disciplines, including biology, biomedical engineering, communication disorders, electrical engineering, neuroscience, otolaryngology, University of Minnesota physics, psychology, and speech-language-hearing sciences. This broad range of departments highlights the multidisciplinary nature of the field. Of course, not all Twin Cities members work in academic settings, and we have strong industry representation, primarily from people working in the area of medical devices such as hearing aids 75 East River Parkway and cochlear implants. Progress in the field is being made on several fronts, and there remain many ex- Minneapolis, Minnesota citing mysteries to solve regarding how the workings of the ear and brain result in our perception of the acoustic environment around us. Since Cherry’s (1953) 55455 famous paper on the “cocktail party problem,” published over 60 years ago in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA), much effort has been devoted USA to answering the question of how we are able to perceptually segregate and attend to one or more sounds in the presence of many other competing sounds, noise, Email: and reverberation. In most cases, the problem is mathematically “ill posed”: there [email protected] is no unique solution to how the single pressure waveform reaching the eardrum should be decomposed into the multiple waveforms that were generated by the different sound sources in the environment. Instead, we must rely on previous in- formation or “priors” to correctly parse the incoming signal into “auditory objects” or “streams.” These priors may be learned from our previous exposure to sounds or they may be “hardwired” into our auditory system, representing information ac- cumulated over evolutionary time and instantiated in the anatomy and physiology of the ear and auditory neural pathways. Members of the P&P TC are studying every part of these auditory pathways from the eardrum and middle ear to the primary and secondary auditory cortex in the brain’s temporal lobes and at every level of investigation from the mechanics and structure of single hair cells in the cochlea to the whole system approach required when studying perception through behavior in humans and other animals. Starting with the ear canal, the tympanic membrane, and the middle ear (home to the smallest bones in the human body and the place where airborne sound is transduced into mechanical vibrations of those bones), new insights continue to be made into these first and crucial steps of the transduction process using ever- improving measurement techniques including laser interferometry and digital ho- lographic techniques (e.g., Khaleghi et al., 2016). The cochlea of the inner ear is where the mechanical vibrations produced by sound are transduced into the neural spiking code of the brain. Here, too, new discoveries in physiology, molecular biol-All rights reserved. ©2016 Acoustical Society of America. volume 12, issue 2 | Summer 2016 | Acoustics Today | 49
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORTPsychological and Physiological Acousticsogy, and genetics continue to solve puzzles and to raise new tional hearing in people who were previously deaf to the ex-questions and controversies. One seemingly simple question tent that many cochlear-implant recipients can understandis whether the sharpness of frequency tuning within the co- speech, even in the absence of lip-reading cues. Well overchlea is similar across different species of mammals. Early 300,000 devices have been implanted worldwide, and it iswork suggested that it was, and so researchers have gener- now common to provide deaf infants as young as 12 monthsally been comfortable with extrapolating the results from in- with a cochlear implant. Despite its tremendous success, us-vasive studies of cochlear mechanics in laboratory animals ers of the cochlear implant still face numerous challenges,such as guinea pigs and chinchillas to explain human hear- including understanding speech in noisy environments anding. Over the past 15 years or so, suggestions that human perceiving pitch in music. Because of these remaining chal-cochlear tuning is considerably sharper than that in other lenges, the push to better understand perception via a co-mammals (Shera et al., 2002) has led to renewed interest and chlear implant and to improve its performance continues; incontroversy in the topic of human cochlear mechanics (Rug- 2015, a total of 15 articles on cochlear implants appeared ingero and Temchin, 2005; Shera et al., 2010), a topic that was JASA alone. Exciting new work is being done in the area ofpioneered by P&P’s own Georg von Békésy, who won the alternative auditory implants, in the brainstem and even inNobel Prize for his work in the area in 1961. the midbrain, for patients for whom a traditional cochlearThe inner and outer hair cells, which line the cochlea and implant is not an option, perhaps because of a tumor or thesense its vibrations, are an astounding feat of biology and lack of an auditory nerve.continue to fascinate and confound researchers. While the At a less invasive level, hearing aids still remain the best op-inner hair cells transduce vibrations into a neural code that tion for most people with a hearing loss that ranges fromis sent along the auditory nerve, the outer hair cells form part mild to severe. Although the technology itself goes back aof a complex process that amplifies the vibrations, sharpens long way, cutting-edge new signal-processing algorithms aretuning, and produces “otoacoustic emissions,” sounds that constantly being updated in these devices to take advantageare generated in the ear. Since their discovery, published in of the more rapid and powerful digital signal processing thata landmark JASA article by David Kemp (1978), otoacoustic can now be fitted within hearing aids. Here, too, researchersemissions have been used to provide us with a window into and companies are experimenting not only with the type ofthe functioning of the human ear that is now employed as processing but also with the type of stimulation, be it via bonepart of the health screening of every newborn infant in the conduction or direct mechanical stimulation of the eardrum.United States. The auditory brain still remains something of a mystery forHearing loss affects a large number of people around the researchers despite the enormous strides that have beenworld and is particularly common among older individuals. made over the past 50 years in understanding how signalsMany forms of hearing loss involve damaged or dysfunc- are passed from the cochlea to the brainstem and midbraintional inner or outer hair cells. However, a new form of hear- structures and then on to the auditory cortex. Althoughing disorder was recently discovered in animals when it was perceptual attributes and features, such as pitch, loudness,found that a loud noise that produced only a temporary shift brightness, and perceived location, have been identified andin thresholds resulted in a loss of up to 50% of the synapses studied psychophysically, it is often challenging to find clearthat connect the inner hair cells to the auditory nerve (Ku- neural correlates of these features. The percept of pitch isjawa and Liberman, 2009). A current hot topic of research one where neural correlates have been identified (e.g., Ben-is to discover the prevalence and perceptual consequences dor and Wang, 2005), although considerable uncertaintyin humans of this “hidden hearing loss,” which remains un- regarding the location and underlying mechanisms remain.detected by traditional clinical screening tools (Schaette and Neuroimaging techniques, such as EEG (electroencephalo-McAlpine, 2011; Plack et al., 2014). gram), MEG (magnetoencephalography), and fMRI (func-One of the great triumphs of auditory research has been tional magnetic resonance imaging), are being recruited tothe cochlear implant. This device is surgically implanted, solve some of these mysteries in the human brain. In addi-with an electrode array inserted into the spiral turns of the tion, cutting-edge technologies, such as two-photon imag-cochlea to directly stimulate the auditory nerve with elec- ing and optogenetics, are being employed in other speciestrical pulses. The cochlear implant can restore some func- to decipher how the brain processes sound and to discover50 | Acoustics Today | Summer 2016
how deficits in human hearing can be treated beyond the acoustics; based on the talent on display at the regular jamear itself. One area that is likely to grow in the coming years sessions of the ASA, musical leanings are shared by mem-involves the study of the efferent or top-down pathways. Al- bers from all areas of the Society.though most introductory accounts of auditory processing Biosketchconcentrate on the pathway from the ear to the brain, thereare at least as many, and probably more, pathways extend- Andrew J. Oxenham is a Distinguisheding from higher cortical levels down to brainstem structures McKnight University Professor in theand back to the ear itself. These pathways remain an under- Departments of Psychology and Otolar-explored but fascinating opportunity to understand how yngology at the University of Minnesota“higher level” processes, such as attention, expectation, and Twin Cities. After studying Music andprior sound experiences, can shape how sound is processed Sound Recording (Tonmeister) at theas early as the ear itself. University of Surrey, UK, he obtainedBecause of the clear health implications of hearing and its a PhD in experimental psychology from the University ofdisorders, the National Institutes of Health, including the Cambridge, UK. He worked at the Institute of PerceptionNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communica- Research (IPO), Northeastern University, and MIT beforetion Disorders (NIDCD), have been the primary sources going to Minnesota in 2006. He has authored over 150 ar-of research funding for work in the P&P area in the United ticles and chapters and was the recipient of the AcousticalStates. The basic scientific interest in communication has led Society of America 2001 R. Bruce Lindsay Award and theto support from the National Science Foundation over the National Academy of Sciences 2009 Troland Award. He cur-years, and the ubiquitous role of acoustics at many levels of rently serves on the ASA Executive Council.communication has led to interest and support from many Referencesdefense-related agencies. Support in other countries has alsobeen primarily through national funding agencies in medi- Bendor, D., and Wang, X. (2005). The neuronal representation of pitch incine, science, and technology. primate auditory cortex. Nature 436, 1161-1165.Members of P&P are active at all levels of the Acoustical Cherry, E. C. (1953). Some experiments on the recognition of speech, withSociety of America (ASA), forming a good proportion of one and two ears. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 25, 975-979.the Society-wide award winners (including the 2014 Gold Kemp, D. T. (1978). Stimulated acoustic emissions from within the humanMedal winner, Brian C. J. Moore, and the R. Bruce Lindsay auditory system. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 64, 1386-award winner, Matthew Goupell) as well as taking on lead- 1391.ership roles, with the 2014-2015 President Judy Dubno and Khaleghi, M., Cheng, J. T., Furlong, C., and Rosowski, J. J. (2016). In-planeVice President Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, both active and and out-of-plane motions of the human tympanic membrane. The Journallong-standing members of the P&P TC. of the Acoustical Society of America 139, 104.There are obvious links between P&P and several other Kujawa, S. G., and Liberman, M. C. (2009). Adding insult to injury: Co-TCs as evidenced by the many joint and cosponsored ses- chlear nerve degeneration after \"temporary\" noise-induced hearing loss.sions held at every ASA meeting. Most closely related are the Journal of Neuroscience 29, 14077-14085.TCs on speech, musical acoustics, animal bioacoustics, and Plack, C. J., Barker, D., and Prendergast, G. (2014). Perceptual consequencesnoise. Understanding speech is, of course, a primary func- of \"hidden\" hearing loss. Trends in Hearing 18, 1-11.tion of human hearing and it is the main target of efforts Ruggero, M. A., and Temchin, A. N. (2005). Unexceptional sharpness of fre-to restore hearing via hearing aids and cochlear implants. A quency tuning in the human cochlea. Proceedings of the National Academylove of music is what attracts many researchers to the field of of Sciences of the United States of America 102, 18614-18619.auditory perception in the first place, and the study of music Schaette, R., and McAlpine, D. (2011). Tinnitus with a normal audiogram:perception in both normal, impaired, and electric hearing physiological evidence for hidden hearing loss and computational model.remains a topic of great scientific interest in the P&P com- Journal of Neuroscience 31, 13452-13457.munity. Of course, an interest in music is not something Shera, C. A., Guinan, J. J., Jr., and Oxenham, A. J. (2002). Revised estimatesunique to P&P or even those in the committee on musical of human cochlear tuning from otoacoustic and behavioral measure- ments. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 99, 3318-3323. Shera, C. A., Guinan, J. J., Jr., and Oxenham, A. J. (2010). Otoacoustic esti- mation of cochlear tuning: Validation in the chinchilla. Journal of the As- sociation for Research in Otolaryngology 11, 343-365. Summer 2016 | Acoustics Today | 51
ASANews Standards Committee Meeting Reports:ISO/TC 43 (Acoustics) and ISO/TC 43/SC 1 (Noise), Milan, Italy, September 2015 Robert D. Hellweg, Jr. Figure 1. The United States delegation to ISO/TC43/SC1 ple- nary meeting in Milan on September 17, 2015. Left to Right: 13 Pine Tree Road, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482 USA Douglas Moore, Laura Ann Wilber, Kevin Lai, and Robert [email protected] Hellweg. Jeff G. Schmitt TC43/WG1 (Threshold of Hearing), with Wilber participat- ing, discussed several standards in the International Stan- ViAcoustics, 2512 Star Grass Circle, Austin, Texas 78745 USA dards Organization (ISO) 389 series, some of which are be- [email protected] ing revised. Most of the standards considered by WG1 are contained in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Laura Ann Wilber S3.6 (Audiometers). ISO has a standard for each transducer, whereas ANSI S3.6 has it all in one document. Generally, 422 Skokie Boulevard, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 USA the reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels [email protected] (RETSPLs) are the same in the ISO and ANSI standards. There was a discussion on voting on ISO/DIS 7029 (Statisti-Background cal Distribution of Hearing Thresholds as a Function of Age)The objective of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) in which the United States voted negative because there was“Robert W. Young Travel Awards for Support of the Devel- not enough information on why the standard needed to beopment of International Standards in Acoustics” is to pro- changed and exactly what information went into the change.vide limited financial support to assist individual experts to The project leader agreed to prepare a paper describing theparticipate in the development of International Standards threshold calculation procedure in detail along with a reso-prepared by International Standards Organization Commit- lution of comments in addition to a proposed layout of ISO/tees ISO/TC43 (Acoustics) and ISO/TC43/SC 1 (Noise) as FDIS 7029.well as by the International Electrotechnical Commission TC43/WG8 (Anechoic Qualification), with Schmitt as con-(IEC) Committee IEC/TC29 (Electroacoustics). vener, and SC1/WG28 (Machinery Noise), with Hellweg asAn ASA member who is expert in a technical field applicable convener, met jointly and covered the following:to one or more working groups (WGs) of IEC/TC29, ISO/ • T he final draft amendments on the two standards for qual-TC43, or ISO/TC43/SC1 and is willing to commit to contrib-ute to the development of drafts and to actively participate in ification of anechoic and hemi-anechoic chambers (ISOWG meetings may apply for this award. Recipients shall be 26101 and ISO 3745 Annex A) were approved for inter-US citizens living in the United States and be self-employed, national balloting. The first edition of ISO 26101 closed aan employee of a small firm, semiretired, or retired. loophole in ISO 3745 Annex A; however, it inadvertentlyThe 2015 Robert W. Young Travel Award recipients were caused many laboratories that met the criteria in ISO 3745Robert Hellweg, Jeff Schmitt, and Laura Ann Wilber. without using that loophole to no be longer be qualified. The United States discovered this problem and proposedHighlights of Meetings amendments to correct it. Schmitt and Winker providedTC43, SC1, and most of their WGs meet at approximately data that were instrumental in the approval of both of18-month intervals to address issues and ensure progress in these revisions.standards development. Their most recent meetings were in • ISO 3744 is one of the more popular sound power level stan-Milan, Italy, in September 2015. dards; however, it is considered too complicated by generalThe United States was also represented in the WGs by Elliott practitioners. WG28 began working to simplify ISO 3744.Berger, Patricia Davies, Kevin Lai, Travis McColley, Doug-las Moore, Brad Moulton, Chadwyck Musser, Paul Schomer,and Douglas Winker. The United States participated in allthree of the TC43/WG meetings and seven of the nine SC1/WG meetings.52 | Acoustics Today | Summer 2016
• Because there is no IEC standard on requirements for uating wind turbine noise in the environment. Two ASA/ computerized data-acquisition systems, a proposed instru- ANSI standards are relevant: draft S12.9 Part 7 (Low Fre- mentation guide for the TC43 measurement standards was quency and Infrasound) and S12.100 (Background Sound in discussed. The guide, prepared in part by Schmitt, would Quiet Areas). WG45 also began working on a standard to address requirements for the use of multichannel comput- determine the prominence of impulsive noise. erized data-acquisition systems as an alternative to the IEC TC43 and SC1 Plenary Meetings 61672 standards on sound level meters, which are not ap- The US delegates to TC43 and SC1 plenaries were Hellweg, plicable to computerized systems. Lai, Moore, Wilber, and Davies (only SC1). TC43 and SC1 confirmed several standards and approved the circulation ofTC43/WG9 (Loudness), with Wilber as convener, is devel- numerous draft standards. SC1 approved the circulation ofoping two standards as a revision to the Zwicker method a ballot to form a new WG on “Tonal Prominence,” and thein ISO 532:1975: ISO/CD 532-1 (revised Zwicker method) United States will actively participate in this WG.and ISO/CD 532-2 (Moore-Glasberg method), which donot yield the same results. The United States proposed Part Summary2, which is similar to ANSI/ASA 3.4-2007. Comments were It is important for the United States to have effective repre-discussed, and for both methods, it was agreed to prepare sentation at the ISO WG meetings because the responses todraft standards for international voting after resolution of comments on draft standards are determined during thesethe remaining comments. Work will begin on Part 3 for de- meetings. The authors believe we were successful overall intermining the loudness for time-varying signals based on accomplishing our goals and are thankful to have receivedthe Moore-Glasberg method. the ASA Robert Young Travel Award. If you wish further in-SC1/WG45 (Environmental Noise), with Hellweg partici- formation, please contact the authors.pating, began work on a standard for measuring and eval- Summer 2016 | Acoustics Today | 53
BooksN E W B o o ks f r o m A S A P r e s s ASA Press is a meritorious imprint of the Acoustical Society of Americain collaboration with the major international publisher Springer Science + Business Media. All new books that are publishedwith the ASA Press imprint will be announced in Acoustics Today. Individuals who have ideas for books should feel free to con-tact the ASA Publications Office to discuss their ideas.Worship Space space venues. Acoustical consulting firms, architects, andAcoustics: worship space designers from across the world contributed3 Decades of Design their recent innovative works in the area of worship space acoustics. The contributions include detailed renderings and Authors: D.T. Bradley, E.E. architectural drawings, as well as informative acoustic data Ryherd, L.M. Ronsse (Eds.) graphs and evocative descriptions of the spaces. Filled with ISBN: 978-1-4939-3096-8; beautiful photography and fascinating modern design, this 978-1-4939-3097-5 (eBook) book is a must-read for anyone interested in religious archi- Pages: 367 tecture, acoustical design, or musical performance. Available formats: Hardcover: $49.99 Reviews eBook and Mycopy: “Worship Space Acoustics: 3 Decades of Design is a beauti- available on springer.com ful collection of recent work. This is a comprehensive com- Publication Date: 1st. ed. pendium that far surpasses previous publications in the field 2016 in its depth, design, and information. Worship spaces of all Publisher: Springer-Verlag major U.S. religions are covered. This book should be an New York obligatory reference for any consultant involved in church architecture and acoustics.”▶ Provides detailed acoustic and architectural informationfor 6 worship space venues from 12 major religions directly -Mendel Kleiner, author of Worship Space Acoustics,from the acousticians who designed the spaces Acoustics: Information and Communication Series▶ Features contributions from acoustical consulting firms (J. Ross Publishing 2010)and worship space designers worldwide, with spaces in-dexed by consulting firm and by geographic location “All involved in their design will appreciate this presentation▶ Includes high-resolution photos and renderings, full-page of recent rooms for religious worship.”architectural drawings, scientific data, an overview of acous-tic design for worship spaces, and a glossary of common -Leo L. Beranek, author of Concert Halls andworship space acoustics terminology Opera Houses: Music, Acoustics, and ArchitectureThis book takes the reader on a wide-ranging tour through (Springer-Verlag 2004)churches, synagogues, mosques, and other worship spacesdesigned during the past 30 years. The book begins with a “Through descriptions, photos, drawings, and acousticalseries of essays on topics ranging from the soundscape of data, this book provides valuable information on existingworship spaces to ecclesiastical design at the turn of the worship spaces designed during the past thirty years. This21st Century. Perspective pieces from an architect, audio very well-edited book, including the Editors' Preface and sixdesigner, music director, and worship space owner are also excellent essays from key people involved in worship spaceincluded. The core of the book presents the acoustical and design, provides valuable information and ideas on the aes-architectural design of a wide variety of individual worship thetic, acoustic, and liturgical design of worship spaces for a number of faiths and in several countries.” -Robert Coffeen, principle at R. C. Coffeen, Consultant in Acoustics LLC, Lawrence, Kansas54 | Acoustics Today | Summer 2016
Acoustics of ▶ Outlines new methods developed in other fields such asMusical Instruments complex modes and nonlinear normal modes ▶ Represents the only book on the physics of musical instru-Series: Modern Acoustics and Signal Processing ments to include practice exercises, catering to a broad audi- ence of graduate students and researchers Authors: A. Chaigne, ▶ Brings the essential Acoustique des instruments de musique J. Kergomard to an English audience for the first time ISBN: 978-1-4939-3677-9; This book, the first English-language translation of Acous- 978-1-4939-3679-3 (eBook) tique des instruments de musique, Second Edition, presents Pages: 844 p. 357 illus., 355 the necessary foundations for understanding the complex illus. in color. physical phenomena involved in musical instruments. What Available formats: is the function of the labium in a flute? Which features of an Hardcover: $279.00 instrument allow us to make a clear audible distinction be- eBook and Mycopy: tween a clarinet and a trumpet? With the help of numerous available on springer.com examples, these questions are addressed in detail. The au- Publication Date: 1st. ed. thors focus in particular on the significant results obtained 2016; Translation of Acous- in the field during the last fifteen years. Their goal is to show tique des instruments de that elementary physical models can be used with benefitmusique, Second Edition, (C) Éditions for various applications in sound synthesis, instrument mak-Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York ing, and sound recording. The book is primarily addressed to▶ Casts new light on the physics of musical instruments graduate students and researchers; however it could also be of▶ Includes up-to-date research published in the field of mu- interest for engineers, musicians, craftsmen, and music loverssical acoustics in the last fifteen years who wish to learn about the basics of musical acoustics. Acoustics Today Interns (ATI) An opportunity for graduate students and early career acousticians who are membersof ASA to serve the Society and gain experience in publication of a major scientific magazine. Contact the magazine editor, Arthur Popper, to find out more about the ATI program.([email protected])� Variable acoustics including low frequencies aQflex™ : Revolutionary on/off sound absorption system� Bass frequency control is crucial for amplified music concerts� Mobile solution available: aQtube® � Lowers RT (63 – 1000 Hz) by up to 45% at the push of a button � aon = app. 0.5 (63 – 1000 Hz) in entire ceiling area. aoff = app. 0.0 � Obtain sought-after low frequency control � For music education, multipurpose concert halls, theatres etc. � Complies with safety and fire regulations (B,s1 – d0 standard) � Projects in Dubai, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Kuwait, Norway etc. � Patents: EP 1 779375 B1, JP 2008 510408, US 7905323 etc. � Engineered by Gerriets Germany For more information please visit our website: www.flexac.com Summer 2016 | Acoustics Today | 55
Ob it uar y | Georg Elias Ioup | 1939-2016 George Elias Ioup, a physicist worked tirelessly on this challenge and inspired many col- and a Fellow of the Acousti- leagues to follow. His group has made considerable progress cal Society of America, passed in this direction. And if one day we have an acoustic library away on January 20, 2016, in his of individual whales, we shall always remember that George New Orleans home after a two- was the first to be convinced that this problem can be solved. year fight with cancer. George George was actively working as a Co-PI on the 2015-2017 was born on March 26, 1939. In project sponsored by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative 1962, he received an SB degree in to study the long-term effects of the spill on deep-diving ma- physics from the Massachusetts rine mammals using passive acoustics (www.ladcgemm.org). Institute of Technology and in One of the most important contributions a scientist can 1968 a doctorate in physics from make is helping to create future generations of scientists.the University of Florida. His dissertation research advanced His guidance went beyond effectively teaching foundationalour understanding of low-energy atomic and molecular col- courses and thoughtfully directing research projects. Hislisions through semiclassical elastic-scattering calculations mentorship guided many successfully through those impor-and deconvolution of data. In 1969, George joined the phys- tant years of transition from student to scientist. His legacyics faculty of the University of New Orleans (UNO) where he of scientific integrity and professionalism as both a teacherremained for 48 years. and a researcher continues through the scientists he fos-By the early 1980s, the development of deconvolution tech- tered. We will remember George not only as a great scholarniques for acoustic and electromagnetic signals was a domi- but also as the kindest, most tolerant, and caring human be-nant topic of George’s research endeavors. The methods of ing we came across during our life journey.inverse problem solution are important in many researchfields and George’s expertise brought him many fruitful Selected Articles by George E. Ioupcollaborations in acoustics, seismology, and radar observa-tions. At the beginning of the millennium, George saw new Ackleh, A. S., Ioup, G. E., Ioup, J. W., Ma, B., Newcomb, J. J., Pal, N., Sidoro-research opportunities for the Gulf of Mexico state universi- vskaia, N. A., and Tiemann, C. O. (2012). Assessing the Deepwater Ho-ties and a critical need for understanding the anthropogenic rizon oil spill impact on marine mammal population through acoustics:impact on the Gulf ecosystem. In 2001, George and his life- Endangered sperm whales. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Americalong colleague and friend, Dr. Grayson Rayborn, founded 131, 2306-2314.the Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center (LADC), with Ioup, G. E. (1982). An introduction to deconvolution. The Louisiana Physicsobjectives to study the evolution of acoustic soundscapes in Teacher 7, 1518.the Gulf and its impact on the environment utilizing pas- Tashmukhambetov, A. M., Ioup, G. E., Ioup, J. W., Sidorovskaia, N., andsive acoustic monitoring. As the first data-processing results Newcomb, J. J. (2008). Three-dimensional seismic array characterizationcame to light, the group realized that collected acoustic re- study: Experiment and modeling. The Journal of the Acoustical Society ofcordings were rich not only in anthropogenic noise but also America 123, 4094-4108.in marine mammal phonations. George was among the first Tiemann, C. O., Jaffe, J. S., Roberts, P. L. D., Sidorovskaia, N. A., Ioup, G. E.,scientists who wanted to tackle a very complex problem of Ioup, J. W., Ekimov, A., and Lehman, S. K. (2011). Signal and image pro-identifying individual whales from their phonations. He cessing techniques as applied to animal bioacoustics problems. Acoustics Today 7(3), 35-43. Written by: Natalia A. Sidorovskaia, Email: [email protected] | Acoustics Today | Summer 2016
Obit uar y | Norman C. Pickering | 1916-2015 Norman was born on July 9, aminations. In 1980, he returned to his first love, the violin. 1916, in Brooklyn, NY, where He served as president of the Violin Society of America, con- he attended school through ducted research on the tone quality of bowed string instru- high school. His love for music ments, and did consulting work for the “D’Addario” com- was kindled early by his mother pany, a prominent manufacturer primarily of guitar strings. at whose side, at the piano, he In the course of his research, he built numerous violins and learned to read music. At the in- violas. He was particularly proud of his mechanized bow- sistence of his father he studied ing machine, which made consistent research on bow-string engineering. Early in life, he set interactions possible. his heart on becoming a violinist The development of the “Pickering cartridge,” however, will and began playing at age 7, but likely be remembered by the world of music as his most sig-an accident in his youth shattered that dream. However, his nificant contribution. Motivated originally by the poor toneaspirations were not totally denied. With a degree in engi- quality of professional recordings and broadcasts, he re-neering from the Newark College of Engineering (later the placed steel needle pickups with lighter and harder materialsNew Jersey Institute of Technology) in 1936, he entered Juil- with a diamond tip. The reduction in record wear, accom-liard with a scholarship and honed his skills as a horn player panied by an increased electronic response, led to an unex-to the point that he was hired by the newly formed India- pected consumer demand for a product that originally wasnapolis Symphony. Later, he continued to play as a profes- designed for professional use. At its peak, his manufacturingsional, freelancing in New York. Norman is survived by his company employed over 150 people.wife, Barbara Goldowsky, an accomplished writer and poet, Among Norman’s many awards are recognition as a Fellowwhom he married in 1979; children from previous marriag- by the Audio Engineering Society and the Acoustical Societyes: a daughter, Judith Crow, and three sons, David, Fredrick, of America; special awards from the Violin Society of Amer-and Rolf; two stepsons, Alexander and Boris Goldowsky; ica, the Audio Engineering Society, and the Catgut Acous-and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. tical Society; and an Honorary Doctor of Science from theNorman is the textbook example of the modern Renais- New Jersey Institute of Technology.sance man. His varied career includes working for C. G.Conn (now Conn-Selmer), a leading manufacturer of musi- Selected Articles by Norman C. Pickeringcal instruments in Elkhart, IN, where he helped to designmostly brass instruments including a very successful French Pickering, N. C. (1980). Results of mechanical bowing tests. Journal of thehorn model. During the war, Norman worked for the Sperry Violin Society of America 6, 59-64.Gyroscope Company that had converted the Conn plant Pickering, N. C. (1983). Anomalies in the frequency-length function in vio-to produce aircraft instrumentation. His efforts eventually lin strings. Journal of the Audio Engineering Society 31, 145-150.led to vibration control designs in Boeing 707s and 747s. In Pickering, N. C. (1985). Physical properties of violin strings. Journal of the1948, he was one of the founders of the Audio Engineering Catgut Acoustical Society 44, 6-8.Society, which grew into an international organization. In Pickering, N. C. (2003). The Violin World. Keener’s East End Litho, Inc., East1949-1950, he did graduate work in acoustics under Harvey Hampton, NY.Fletcher at Columbia University. While working in a labo-ratory at Southampton Hospital, Norman developed instru- Written by:mentation for ultrasound diagnostic techniques in eye ex- Uwe J. Hansen, Email: [email protected] Indiana State University Summer 2016 | Acoustics Today | 57
Obit uar y | Roelof J. Ritsma | 1925-2015 On July 4, 2015, our colleague of the ENT Department at the Academic Hospital (now the Roelof Johan (Roel) Ritsma University Medical Center Groningen). He succeeded Henk passed away at the age of 90 Huizing, the first professor of audiology in The Netherlands. after a short illness. Roel was a Roel actively promoted the field of audiology. In The Neth- member of the Acoustical Soci- erlands, he chaired the Dutch Audiological Society (NVA), ety since 1967. and around 1970, he initiated the use of wireless equipment In 1941, Roel was admitted in schools for the hard of hearing. to the Faculty of Sciences at Roel stimulated audiological research in relationship to the Utrecht University (UU), The education of audiologists. Soon after the initiating research Netherlands. His physics study on otoacoustic emissions by David Kemp, the phenomenawas interrupted by World War II from the beginning of 1943 were verified in Groningen (Wit and Ritsma, 1979). He alsountil the end of the war in 1945. He returned to Holland in remained interested in time-frequency properties of the au-July 1945 from a forced labor period in Germany. In 1949, he ditory processing of complex signals such as speech in noisyfinished his Master’s study of physics at UU. It was followed environments (Horst and Ritsma, 1981).by a PhD study, and he presented his thesis on Electrometers Roel was married to Marietje van Buren from 1951 untilat same university in 1955. Next, he became involved in the her death in 2012. He is survived by three children and nineteaching of physics and later also in teaching the teachers. grandchildren.In 1958, Roel returned to fundamental research at the In-stitute for Perception Research in Eindhoven, The Neth- Selected Articles by Roelof J. Ritsmaerlands, obtaining an associate professor position at theEindhoven University of Technology. His contributions to Horst, J. W., and Ritsma, R. J. (1981). Anomalous auditory filter bandwidthauditory perception started in 1962 with a number of papers derived from direct masking of complex signals. The Journal of the Acousti-in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Ritsma, cal Society of America 69, 1770-1777.1962, 1963, 1967; Schouten et al., 1962). These all addressed Ritsma, R. J. (1962). Existence region of the tonal residue. I. The Journal ofproperties of the so-called tonal residue. At the time, it was the Acoustical Society of America 34, 1224-1229.clear that the pitch of a complex sound did not require the Ritsma, R. J. (1963). Existence region of the tonal residue. II. The Journal ofpresence of a component at the fundamental frequency nor the Acoustical Society of America 35, 1241-1245.was it exactly determined by periodicity information, viz., Ritsma, R. J. (1967). Frequencies dominant in the perception of pitch ofpitch strength decreased at very high harmonics where tem- complex sounds. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 42, 191-poral information would be retained. The contradiction was 198.largely resolved when Julius Goldstein proposed a spectral Schouten, J. F., Ritsma, R. J., and Cardozo, B. L. (1962). Pitch of the residue.pattern recognition interpretation. During this research The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 34, 1418-1424.phase, Roel spent half a year at the Bell Laboratories in Mur- Wit, H. P., and Ritsma, R. J. (1979). Stimulated acoustic emissions from theray Hill, NJ, in active contact with Newman Guttman and human ear. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 66, 911-913.Aaron Rosenberg.Roel Ritsma moved to Groningen, The Netherlands, in 1969 Written by:where he was appointed as chair of the Audiology Section Diek Duifhuis, Email: [email protected] Hero Wit, Email: [email protected] Pim van Dijk, Email: [email protected] University Medical Center Groningen58 | Acoustics Today | Summer 2016
Obit uar y | Ewart Wetherill | 1928-2015 Ewart (Red) Wetherill, a Fellow necessity of heeding recommendations for the long-term of the Acoustical Society, passed benefits and future users of the buildings, whether it was a away at his home in Alameda, school of music, a hospital, or a worship space. CA, on November 14, 2015. Red attended the University of British Columbia as an un- Red was highly respected for his dergraduate and obtained his Masters of Architecture from knowledge and professionalism MIT. He held teaching positions at Clemson University, the in architectural acoustics as well University of British Columbia, and the University of Cali- as his ever-present kind-hearted fornia, Berkeley. He also guest lectured around the world. humor when addressing anyone. His presentations were always up-to-date using personal Red’s work and reputation as case studies and humorous anecdotes that reinforced thean acoustical consultant was far reaching. He worked at the technical points involved.Cambridge, MA, and Los Angeles offices of Bolt, Beranek, Red will always be known for his creative free-hand draw-and Newman, Inc. (BBN), before comanaging their San ings and buildable details for acoustical recommendationsFrancisco office with Warren Blazier in 1967. Leo Beranek and solutions that were admired by his clients, architects,said of Red, “He was an important member of BBN. We de- and peer consultants alike. His projects always looked as wellpended on him to manage the west coast architectural acous- as sounded good.tics clients. He was a marvelous person. Clients were always In addition to his dedication to the profession of acoustics,pleased with the results of his consultations.” He also worked Red was dedicated to his family and his many friends andat other consulting firms in the San Francisco Bay Area. He neighbors. He was president of the Citizen’s League for Air-was introduced to architectural acoustics and its application port Safety and Serenity (CLASS) until just before his death.to buildings by Robert Newman at the MIT School of Archi- In October 2015, the Oakland Airport Noise Forum publiclytecture and Planning. recognized his efforts and his contributions in promotingRed’s contributions to the profession, in particular to the airport noise compatibility with the community.ASA, are well-documented. He joined the ASA in 1962, was His wife Jinny, brother William, granddaughter Nikki, andelected a Fellow in 1986, and served over five decades on the grandson Raice survive Red.Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics (TCAA),which he chaired from 1986 to 1989. Selected Articles by Ewart WetherillRed’s work encompassed practically all areas of controllingsound in and around buildings, but he focused his concen- Purcell, J. B. C., and Wetherill, E. A. (1965). Acoustics of the Civic Cen-tration on four areas: performing arts auditoria, worship ter Theatre, San Diego, California, The Journal of the Acoustical Society ofspaces, building noise control, and education spaces. His America, 37, 1202.work typically had historical context and was very practical Wetherill, E. A. (1964). Acoustical considerations in church design. Worshipand educational. and Arts Magazine.In the architectural acoustics community, as soon as the Wetherill, E. A. (1965). Reduction of plumbing noise in a multistory build-name \"Red\" was mentioned, everyone knew exactly who was ing. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 38, 936.being spoken about. Architectural clients actually looked Wetherill, E. A. (2005). Forty years of plumbing noise control. The Journal offorward to consultations with Red. He made his recom- the Acoustical Society of America, 118, 1855.mendations easy to understand and convinced clients on the Written by: Dennis Paoletti, Email: [email protected] Summer 2016 | Acoustics Today | 59
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