Personal Stereo Research Articles

Walkman time machine

ABSTRACT In the recent boom of 1980s-set television period dramas, the Walkman appears again and again as a symbol of the decade. This article argues that the Walkman (or personal stereo) is not just a one-way ticket into the past but can unsettle the temporality of the television serials in which it appears. It functions as a time machine – figuratively and occasionally even literally – by creating allegorical connections between past and present. Halt and Catch Fire (AMC, 2014–2017), The Americans (FX, 2013–2018), and Deutschland 83 (Sundance TV, 2015–2020) recreate for viewers the initial experience of the Walkman as a wondrously new piece of personal, mobile technology. Oblique comparisons to the smartphone sidestep didacticism, instead creating a defamiliarized perspective on current technology that has otherwise become a source of both boredom and anxiety. The Walkman further provides a structural metaphor for the ‘complex’ temporality of shows like Halt and Catch Fire: the back-and-forth spooling/unspooling mechanism of cassette tape access suggests that backward and forward movement in time are inherently intertwined. The Walkman’s recurring appearances in these serial television narratives allow the shows to ponder how we arrived at our technological present and what might have gone differently.

The epitome of reprehensible individualism: The Dutch response to the Walkman, 1980–1995

Nowhere were Walkmans in higher demand than in the Netherlands. Especially youth embraced the device. This research presents a discourse analysis of Dutch media coverage of the Walkman from 1980 through 1995. It demonstrates that portable cassette players were met with pervasive cultural pessimism, for they were believed to symbolize and spur deplorable individualism, which purportedly manifested itself in consumerism; isolation; escapism; and inconsiderateness. In debates on all four topics, youth was made out to be materialistic and self-absorbed. Such criticism, this research argues, helped create a generational divide and added to a societal climate in which vested powers could discursively and economically target youth.

Front Matter

EDITORAmy Cooper Cary (2020–2023), Marquette UniversitySumayya Ahmed (2019–2023), Simmons UniversityRebecca Hankins (2022–2023), Texas A&M University LibrariesKatharina Hering (2019–2023), German Historical InstituteEric Hung (2020–2024), Music of Asian America Research CenterShadrack Katuu (2019–2022), United Nations Mission in South SudanReviews EditorRose Buchanan (2021–2024), National Archives and Records AdministrationStephanie Luke (2021–2024), University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignJessican Lacher-Feldman (2020–2024), University of RochesterMark Matienzo (2021–2025), Stanford University LibrariesMarlee Newman (2021–2025), Archival ConsultantKathryn Puerini (2020–2024), Archival ConsultantSylvia Welsh (2020–2024), Harvard UniversityAmerican Archivist (ISSN 0360-9081) is published semiannually (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter) by:The Society of American Archivists17 North State Street, Suite 1425, Chicago, IL 60602-3315 USATel 866-722-7858 or 312-606-0722 Fax 312-606-0728 www.archivists.orgThe entire run of American Archivist—from 1938 to date—may be accessed at AmericanArchivist.org.Subscription rate; $289Articles and Ideas:Amy Cooper Cary, Editor, AmericanArchivist@archivists.orgReviews (books, exhibits, tools, resources):Rose Buchanan and Stephanie Luke, Reviews Editor, reviewseditor@archivists.orgProduction and Advertising:Teresa M. Brinati, Director of Publishing, tbrinati@archivists.orgAbigail Christian, Editorial and Production Manager, achristian@archivists.orgThese music flyers and recordings from the 1990s were donated to the New Brunswick Music Scene Archive at Rutgers University's Special Collections and University Archives by musician Eddie Konczal. The Budapest Cocktail Lounge, featured prominently in the spread, was a key music venue in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the late 1990s. The Buda Bootlegs, highlighting bands that frequented the Budapest such as Spiral Jetty, Buzzkill, The Blisters, and Chris Harford & the Band of Changes, were recorded on portable cassette player at the venue. Through the lens of the New Brunswick Music Scene Archive, Christine A. Lutz discusses building local music archives and connecting with donors by engaging the scenes approach from popular music studies in “ Making a Scene: A Scenes Approach to a Local Music Archives.” Photo courtesy of Franklin Bridges.

Awareness and Experience of Tinnitus in Nepalese Young Adult Population

Abstract Introduction The prevalence of tinnitus is increasing in younger adult rapidly. It is increasing mainly because of increased daily noise levels due to the unrestrained usage of recreational devices like mobile phones, MP3s, iPods, and other personal stereos. The aim of this study is to describe awareness and experience of tinnitus among younger adult with respect to the existence, cause, effects, and management. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 205 young adult Nepalese population between the age ranges between 20 and 40 years through online survey mode. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 25.0 software. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics. Results Result showed more than half of the participants (59.2%) were aware about the existence of tinnitus; however, only 16.1% of participants were aware about the effect of tinnitus. The incidence of tinnitus was found to be high (11.71%) in Nepalese population. Conclusion Even though most of the participants were found to be aware about existence of tinnitus, most of them were not aware about the effect of tinnitus and its cause. This result has implications for audiologist who are involved in hearing health care program across the various age groups. As per this study, since most of the participants pointed to the Internet as their source of awareness, that could be further tapped on to provide awareness in these age groups.

Phonography Culture

Phonography Culture

Embodied Perceptions of Darkness

Embodied Perceptions of Darkness

Inovação para promoção de saúde auditiva: Desenvolvimento de recurso experiencial e instrucional para o uso de estéreos pessoais

Com o desenvolvimento tecnológico o emprego da TIC (Tecnologia de informação e comunicação), encontra-se cada vez mais presente na prática de ensino e aprendizagem, possibilitando diversos benefícios, dentre eles, uma maior flexibilidade e retém maior atenção e envolvimento do participante, como também beneficia atividades relacionadas à promoção e prevenção. Dessa forma, o objetivo foi desenvolver recurso experiencial e instrucional como estratégia inovadora para promoção de saúde auditiva, no tocante ao uso de estéreos pessoais. O desenvolvimento do recurso instrucional e experiencial foi realizada por três estudantes do curso de Fonoaudiologia, sendo utilizada a abordagem metodológica do Design Thinking nas etapas de imersão, ideação e prototipagem. Foi utilizada a plataforma de criação de vídeos com animação digital Powtooon, com duas músicas em português brasileiro manipuladas acusticamente por intermédio da plataforma Adobe Audition CC versão 11.1 2018. Foram produzidos dois recursos experienciais e um recurso instrucional, no formato áudio-visual. O recursos experienciais foram manipulados para a retirada dos fricativos /f/, /v/, /s/ e /z/ simulando uma perda auditiva nas frequências em torno de 4 a 8kHz e 10 a 30dBNA, apresentando zumbido associado e diminuição da acuidade auditiva, com sensação de “abafamento”. Foi desenvolvido recurso sob as perspectivas experiencial e instrucional permitindo a vivência de ouvir músicas com sensação simulada de perda auditiva/zumbido e orientações sobre o uso de estéreos pessoais, com possibilidade de promover saúde auditiva, com interação, no tocante a potencializar conscientização, educação sobre o uso de estéreos pessoais.

Design - Consumer Technology. More personal stereo [sounding audio equipment

Is the best possible sounding audio equipment a mirage? Is the ultimate sound in fact much more personal than we ever thought? Dickon Ross was at CES to hear one such solution, SoundID, for himself. “HOW I THOUGHT about it before was that ultimately there is this Holy Grail of sound,” says Sonarworks co-founder Martins Popelis. “At CES, some company will come up with the perfect headphones and everybody will say ‘Wow! This is it!’ — and that will be it for the end of time; everybody will say that's the right sound. And that keeps on not happening. But still people keep chasing that idea that there's this Holy Grail of sound.

Sistema educativo para estimar os níveis sonoros de fones de ouvido em adolescentes

O uso de equipamento estéreo pessoal por jovens é uma realidade observada no dia a dia e os níveis de intensidade utilizados são preocupantes. Objetivo: Apresentar um sistema educativo para rastrear os níveis sonoros de fones de ouvido de adolescentes usuários de equipamentos portáteis de som (EPS). Método: A amostra foi composta por 49 adolescentes de uma de uma escola pública do Estado de São Paulo. Foram feitas as estimativas do Nível de Pressão Sonora (NPS), filtro A, com a utilização de um sistema educativo para estimar o nível de pressão sonora. Este sistema foi desenvolvido pelo programa Dangerous Decibels.org® e recebeu o nome de Jolene (Estados Unidos) e Gisele D’Barulho (Brasil). As respostas obtidas foram analisadas de forma descritiva em valores de % e de média, mediana e moda. Resultados: O valor de moda para nível de Pressão Sonora, obtidos através do Sistema Gisele D’Barulho, foi de 104 dB (A), sendo que foram encontrados os níveis mais elevados no grupo do sexo masculino. O Sistema mostrou-se eficaz na motivação dos jovens a participarem da pesquisa. Conclusões: esse sistema de rastreio do nível de intensidade sonora atendeu os objetivos educativos de mostrar para os participantes qual o volume de som que estavam usando. Essa técnica permitiu mostrar que estão utilizando os seus equipamentos portáteis de som em intensidade acima do recomendado, aumentando as chances de problemas auditivos em futuro próximo.

Autonomous lights detecting and reporting robots from e-scrap (Scrapines)

Abstract Electronic Scrap (E-scrap) encompasses a broad and growing range of electronic devices ranging from large household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, hand-held cellular phones, personal stereos, and consumer electronics to computers. The reuse of E-scrap is mainly limited in the separation of valuable materials, but there is another opportunity in using the E-scrap, to build robots, which are cost effective and building them can be can be very functional for different universal needs such as in a University. Autonomous lights detecting and reporting robot from e-scrap (Scrapines) is able to move through certain university spaces/classes using motion motors, to identify obstacles ultrasonic sensors are used, to detect lights in certain university spaces/classes light sensors and LDR sensors are used, robotic arm are used to turn off lights, and going back to reception to give a report which classes have been visited and in which classes lights are turn off. Autonomous detecting lights and reporting robots from e-scrap will provide a very good learning experience and also serve as a gateway to get into building robotics from e-scrap.

Self-sustainable robot from e-scrap using renewable energy (Scrapino)

Abstract In a sustainable model’s energy and material resources are restricted. Therefore, electronic scrap (E-scrap) encompasses a broad and growing range of electronic devices ranging from large household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, hand-held cellular phones, personal stereos, and consumer electronics to computers. The reuse of E-scrap is mainly limited in the separation of valuable materials, but there is another opportunity in using the e-scrap robots by combining them with renewable energy sources, and this way to build self-sustainable robots, which are cost effective and building them can be very functional for different universal needs. Self-sustainable robot (SSR) from e-scrap using renewable energy, has a solar panel to power it and to make him self-sustainable, it enables the robot to move through campus grounds and search for best angle to sunbathe and this way to collect energy. It can be used in different ways form greeting, giving out flyers, as an information robot to give information on ongoing conferences agenda, workshops etc. SSR, will provide a very good learning experience and show that robotics and renewable energy can go hand in hand and serve as a gateway to start getting SSR from e-scrap.

Otoacoustic emissions in young adults exposed to drums noise of a college band

ABSTRACT Purpose: to identify cochlear dysfunction and occurrence of tinnitus in young adults exposed to drums noise of a college band. Methods: the sample included 50 subjects: 25 musicians (study group) and 25 non-musicians (control group). The procedures included anamnesis, pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance and Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions, Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions Input-Output function. Results: positive correlation between the occurrence of tinnitus and the variables exposure time and use of personal stereos was found. Overall, the study group showed significantly lower Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions, when compared to the control group. In the study group, there was a tendency toward worse response in 6 kHz(f2) in Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions in both ears. The Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions Input-Output function did not differ between groups nor did its slope. Conclusion: in general, otoacoustic emissions were worse in noise-exposed young people (study group) when compared to the unexposed (control group), indicating that the test may be important in early identification of cochlear changes.

Contemporary noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) prevention.

Hearing impairment caused by noise, traditionally called - depending on the duration of exposure - acute or chronic acoustic trauma, includes, in addition to presbyacusis, the most common adult population of hearing impaired. In Poland - according to the report of the Central Statistical Office (GUS, 2011), the number of workers employed in NDN exceeded the noise level (85 dB) is about 200 thousand, the highest in the mining, metal and metal products production, textiles and wood production. According to the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of on June 30, 2009, on the list of occupational diseases (Journal of Laws No. 132, item 1115), it is defined as "bilateral permanent hearing loss of the cochlear or sensory-nerve type, expressed as an increase in hearing threshold of at least 45 dB in the ear better heard, calculated as an arithmetic mean for frequencies 1,2 and 3 kHz. Hearing impairments also occur in the military and police during field training and in combat where the source of acoustic injuries are firearms and pulse-inducing explosions (as in some industries) with high C peak levels (Lc peak) Time to rise to a maximum of <1 ms. The prevalence of loud music listening, particularly by personal stereo players, is also affecting children and adolescents with audiometric hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates of around 15-20%. The preventive action strategy is defined by the European Union legislation and the national implementing legislation that reduces or eliminates the risk and reduces (if not eliminated), taking into account available technical and organizational solutions to minimize the risk of hearing damage. If you can not reduce the noise levels with technical and organizational methods, you need individual hearing protectors. Ear protectors may be equipped with electronic systems with active noise reduction (which can improve low and medium frequency performance), adjustable attenuation (improves speech intelligibility and perception of warning signals), and wireless communication for verbal communication.

Disruptive ambient music: Mobile phone music listening as portable urbanism

This article explores the use of mobile phones as portable remediated sound devices for mobile listening – from boom boxes to personal stereos and mp3 players. This way of engaging the city through music playing and listening reveals a particular urban strategy and acoustic urban politics. It increases the sonic presence of mobile owners and plays a role in territorialisation dynamics, as well as in eliciting territorial conflicts in public. These digital practices play a key role in the enactment of the urban mood and ambience, as well as in the modulation of people’s presence – producing forms of what Spanish architect Roberto González calls portable urbanism: an entanglement of the digital, the urban and the online that activates a map of a reality over the fabric of the city, apparently not so present, visible or audible.

An Estimation of the Whole-of-Life Noise Exposure of Adolescent and Young Adult Australians with Hearing Impairment.

Since amplified music gained widespread popularity, there has been community concern that leisure-noise exposure may cause hearing loss in adolescents and young adults who would otherwise be free from hearing impairment. Repeated exposure to personal stereo players and music events (e.g., nightclubbing, rock concerts, and music festivals) are of particular concern. The same attention has not been paid to leisure-noise exposure risks for young people with hearing impairment (either present from birth or acquired before adulthood). This article reports on the analysis of a subset of data (leisure participation measures) collected during a large, two-phase study of the hearing health, attitudes, and behaviors of 11- to 35-yr-old Australians conducted by the National Acoustic Laboratories (n = 1,667 hearing threshold level datasets analyzed). The overall aim of the two-phase study was to determine whether a relationship between leisure-noise exposure and hearing loss exists. In the current study, the leisure activity profiles and accumulated ("whole-of-life") noise exposures of young people with (1) hearing impairment and (2) with normal hearing were compared. Cross-sectional cohort study. Hearing impaired (HI) group, n = 125; normal (nonimpaired) hearing (NH) group, n = 296, analyzed in two age-based subsets: adolescents (13- to 17-yr-olds) and young adults (18- to 24-yr-olds). Participant survey. The χ² test was used to identify systematic differences between the leisure profiles and exposure estimates of the HI and NH groups. Whole-of-life noise exposure was estimated by adapting techniques described in ISO 1999. For adolescents, leisure profiles were similar for the two groups and few individuals exceeded the stated risk criterion. For young adults, participation was significantly lower for the HI group for 7 out of 18 leisure activities surveyed. Activity diversity and whole-of-life exposure were also significantly lower for the HI group young adults. A substantial number of individuals in both groups reported participation in leisure activities known to involve high noise levels (HI < NH). The individual whole-of-life exposures for the HI and NH participants were estimated and group median exposures were calculated. The median exposure for HI group young adults was significantly lower than that for the NH group (710 versus 1,615 Pa² h [Pascal squared hours]). The number of young adults with estimated exposure above the chosen noise-risk criterion in the NH group is concerning. With respect to the goals of hearing loss prevention initiatives, the more conservative social behavior (e.g., less nightclubbing) observed among HI group young adults may be regarded as a positive finding, but it could also signify relative social disadvantage for some young adults with hearing impairment.

Hábitos e queixas auditivas de adolescentes usuários de estéreos pessoais

RESUMO Objetivo: caracterizar os hábitos e queixas auditivas de adolescentes normoouvintes, usuários de estéreos pessoais e relacioná-los com a atividade do sistema olivococlear medial. Métodos: foram avaliados 21 indivíduos, com idades entre 12 e 19 anos, com audição normal. Todos responderam a um questionário fechado referente ao comportamento auditivo e a queixa de zumbido e realizaram avaliação audiológica: Audiometria, Imitanciometria, Emissões Otoacústicas Evocadas Transientes e Efeito de Supressão. Resultados: todos os participantes do estudo ficam expostos à música, a maioria, menos de duas horas diárias. Observou-se a presença do efeito de supressão na orelha direita em 66,67% e na esquerda em 61,90% dos adolescentes. Não foi encontrada associação significante entre a presença do efeito de supressão entre as orelhas, os gêneros e entre tempos de exposição sonora diária e ausência do efeito de supressão. Parte da amostra dos adolescentes referiu ter zumbido, destes, a maioria referiu zumbido em ambas as orelhas. Houve associação significante entre a exposição sonora diária e a presença de zumbido e entre a ausência do efeito de supressão da orelha direita e a presença de zumbido. Conclusão: os adolescentes pesquisados referiram ouvir música diariamente, menos de duas horas diárias. A maioria apresentou efeito de supressão. Houve associação entre queixa de zumbido e ausência do efeito de supressão na orelha direita. Além disso, quanto maior o tempo de exposição sonora maior também a presença de queixa de zumbido nestes adolescentes.

High‐frequency profile in adolescents and its relationship with the use of personal stereo devices

ObjectiveTo analyze and correlate the audiometric findings of high frequencies (9–16kHz) in adolescents with their hearing habits and attitudes, in order to prevent noise‐induced hearing loss. MethodThis was a descriptive cross‐sectional study, which included 125 adolescents in a sample of normal‐hearing students, at a state school. The subjects performed high‐frequency audiometry testing and answered a self‐administered questionnaire addressing information on sound habits concerning the use of personal stereo devices. The sample was divided according to the exposure characteristics (time, duration, intensity, etc.) and the results were compared with the observed thresholds, through the difference in proportions test, chi‐squared, Student's t‐test, and Anova, all at a significance level of 0.05. ResultsAverage high‐frequency thresholds were registered below 15dB HL and no significant correlation was found between high frequency audiometric findings and the degree of exposure. ConclusionThe prevalence of harmful sound habits due to the use of personal stereo devices is high in the adolescent population, but there was no correlation between exposure to high sound pressure levels through personal stereos and the high‐frequency thresholds in this population.

High-frequency profile in adolescents and its relationship with the use of personal stereo devices

ObjectiveTo analyze and correlate the audiometric findings of high frequencies (9–16kHz) in adolescents with their hearing habits and attitudes, in order to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. MethodThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study, which included 125 adolescents in a sample of normal-hearing students, at a state school. The subjects performed high-frequency audiometry testing and answered a self-administered questionnaire addressing information on sound habits concerning the use of personal stereo devices. The sample was divided according to the exposure characteristics (time, duration, intensity, etc.) and the results were compared with the observed thresholds, through the difference in proportions test, chi-squared, Student's t-test, and ANOVA, all at a significance level of 0.05. ResultsAverage high-frequency thresholds were registered below 15dB HL and no significant correlation was found between high frequency audiometric findings and the degree of exposure. ConclusionThe prevalence of harmful sound habits due to the use of personal stereo devices is high in the adolescent population, but there was no correlation between exposure to high sound pressure levels through personal stereos and the high-frequency thresholds in this population.

“New Avenues for Listening.” Sensory Culture in the Digital Age and the Persistence of Utopia

Michael Bull is a Professor of Sound Studies at the University of Sussex, in England. His research focuses on the relationship between new mobile technologies and auditory culture in everyday life, at the crossroads of urban studies, media studies and sound studies. In this interview, he talks about his background in sociology and philosophy, his research on personal stereos, his theoretical references (from Simmel to Adorno), and his views on the future developments of studies on sound culture, senses, and society.

Amplified music with headphones and its implications on hearing health in teens.

To analyze the habits and behavior of adolescents exposed to amplified music with headphones and its implications on their hearing health. One hundred thirty-one high school students, aged 15 to 18 years were given a questionnaire containing closed questions regarding their habits and behavior related to personal stereos use. It is a descriptive cross-sectional study and used the Chi-square test. It was shown that 79% of young people make use of portable music devices, 61.83% have a habit of using them often, 34.35% have long periods of exposure, and 37.40% use them at high volume. In terms of symptoms, present were: difficulty concentrating 63.36%; the need to ask people to repeat what was said 64.12%; the need to increase the TV volume 43.51%; tinnitus 38.93%, excitability 38.93%; and 36.64% of teens say they are somewhat worried about losing their hearing through the use of personal stereos. For the preventive aspects, 90.84% believe that noise is part of society, 80.92% find it important to reduce noise pollution, 51.91% would like to know the influence of the noise/pollution, but 74.81% would not like to participate in projects with questions about hearing health. The youths in this study are making indiscriminate use of personal stereos with headphones, within a population at risk for hearing loss considering its habits. Hearing Health Promotion Programs are recommended for this population.