Blind Pedestrians and Quieter Vehicles: How Adding Artificial Sounds Impacts Travel Decisions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Wall Emerson ◽  
Dae Shik Kim ◽  
Koorosh Naghshineh ◽  
Kyle Myers
Keyword(s):  
Discrimination Task ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Vehicle Speed ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Forward Movement ◽  
Detection Distance ◽  
Travel Decisions ◽  
Better Than

This research examined the influence “quiet” (e.g., hybrid and electric) vehicles may have on the ability of blind pedestrians to perform common orientation and mobility tasks under low vehicle speed conditions. The research involved blind participants detecting forward approaching vehicles and approaching backing vehicles, deciding whether a vehicle coming from behind or from the front but across an intersection would continue to go straight or turn across the intended path of travel of a pedestrian seeking to cross a street (i.e., a pathway discrimination task), and taking parallel and perpendicular alignment from passing traffic. Participants included some with normal hearing and some with impaired hearing. Testing was conducted on a public roadway and a parking lot in Kalamazoo, Michigan under ambient sound conditions consistent with a typical urban travel environment. Conditions involved evaluating internal combustion engine (ICE) Chevrolet Malibu and a set of hybrid Chevrolet Volts capable of operating in a “quiet” mode (referred to as Electric Mode or EM) or operating in EM but augmented with one of five different artificially-generated sounds emanating out of a front-bumper mounted speaker. All of the artificial sounds generally performed better against the baseline the Chevrolet Volt EM than the Chevrolet Malibu. This suggests that, to some extent, putting any one of these artificial sounds on a hybrid or electric vehicle may improve pedestrian performance on the measures examined relative to not adding any sound at all. One sound (sound 5) did not outperform against the Chevrolet Malibu in any measure and had the fewest instances of outperforming the Chevrolet Volt EM. Of the remaining 4 sounds, two sounds outperformed both the Chevrolet Malibu and the Chevrolet Volt EM on several measures. Against the Chevrolet Malibu, sound 2 was slightly better in detection distance and crossing margin while sound 4 was better in the path discrimination tasks. The two sounds were equivalent on the alignment tasks. The pathway discrimination task reflects one of the more potentially threatening situations in which a blind pedestrian might encounter a quiet vehicle (e.g., turning to cross the pedestrian’s path). Sound 4 performed much better than sound 2 on this measure, making it the most effective of all the artificial sounds examined. While these two sounds were equitable in the right-straight task, sound 4 showed almost half as many missed vehicle surges (i.e., forward movement from a stop) and 1/4 the rate of missed paths and incorrect judgments. Vehicle sound condition did not impact participants’ alignment. Normal hearing participants performed significantly better than hearing impaired participants on this task, but not as well as would be expected based on previous data [1]. These results support the potential for artificially-generated sounds to improve the ability of blind pedestrians to detect approaching vehicles relative to what is being achieved with ICE vehicles. Regression analysis of the detection data supports previous results that sound energy in the 500 to 1000 Hz range is important for detection. However, the analysis indicates it is not that energy in this region that makes the signal more noticeable, but that energy in this region in the ambient environment hinders detection. Previous findings in low ambient conditions showing a predictive value for the amplitude modulation of an artificial sound were not supported in these data.

Auditory, Visual, and Auditory-Visual Recognition of Consonants by Children with Normal and Impaired Hearing

1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman P. Erber
Keyword(s):  
Visual Recognition ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Deaf Children ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Acoustic Information ◽  
Hearing Children ◽  
Visual Reception ◽  
Impaired Children ◽  
Better Than

The consonants /b, d, g, k, m, n, p, t/ were presented to normal-hearing, severely hearing-impaired, and profoundly deaf children through auditory, visual, and combined auditory-visual modalities. Through lipreading alone, all three groups were able to discriminate between the places of articulation (bilabial, alveolar, velar) but not within each place category. When they received acoustic information only, normal-hearing children recognized the consonants nearly perfectly, and severely hearing-impaired children distinguished accurately between voiceless plosives, voiced plosives, and nasal consonants. However, the scores of the profoundly deaf group were low, and they perceived even voicing and nasality cues unreliably. Although both the normal-hearing and the severely hearing-impaired groups achieved nearly perfect recognition scores through simultaneous auditory-visual reception, the performance of the profoundly deaf children was only slightly better than that which they demonstrated through lipreading alone.

Age at Full-Time Use Predicts Language Outcomes Better Than Age of Surgery in Children Who Use Cochlear Implants

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 986-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa R. Park ◽  
Erika B. Gagnon ◽  
Erin Thompson ◽  
Kevin D. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Time Use ◽  
Expressive Language ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Language Outcomes ◽  
Age At Surgery ◽  
Device Placement ◽  
Device Use ◽  
Better Than

Purpose The aims of this study were to (a) determine a metric for describing full-time use (FTU), (b) establish whether age at FTU in children with cochlear implants (CIs) predicts language at 3 years of age better than age at surgery, and (c) describe the extent of FTU and length of time it took to establish FTU in this population. Method This retrospective analysis examined receptive and expressive language outcomes at 3 years of age for 40 children with CIs. Multiple linear regression analyses were run with age at surgery and age at FTU as predictor variables. FTU definitions included 8 hr of device use and 80% of average waking hours for a typically developing child. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the establishment and degree of FTU. Results Although 8 hr of daily wear is typically considered FTU in the literature, the 80% hearing hours percentage metric accounts for more variability in outcomes. For both receptive and expressive language, age at FTU was found to be a better predictor of outcomes than age at surgery. It took an average of 17 months for children in this cohort to establish FTU, and only 52.5% reached this milestone by the time they were 3 years old. Conclusions Children with normal hearing can access spoken language whenever they are awake, and the amount of time young children are awake increases with age. A metric that incorporates the percentage of time that children with CIs have access to sound as compared to their same-aged peers with normal hearing accounts for more variability in outcomes than using an arbitrary number of hours. Although early FTU is not possible without surgery occurring at a young age, device placement does not guarantee use and does not predict language outcomes as well as age at FTU.

scholarly journals Analysis of Driving Dynamics Considering Driving Resistances in On-Road Driving

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3408
Author(s):  
Jingeun Song ◽  
Junepyo Cha
Keyword(s):  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Vehicle Speed ◽  
Driving Dynamic ◽  
Engine Emissions ◽  
Engine Load ◽  
Positive Acceleration ◽  
Emission Regulations ◽  
Transportation Emissions ◽  
Light Duty Vehicles ◽  
Dynamic Variables

Internal combustion engine emissions are a serious worldwide problem. To combat this, emission regulations have become stricter with the goal of reducing the proportion of transportation emissions in global air pollution. In addition, the European Commission passed the real driving emissions–light-duty vehicles (RDE-LDV) regulation that evaluates vehicle emissions by driving on real roads. The RDE test is significantly dependent on driving conditions such as traffic or drivers. Thus, the RDE regulation has the means to evaluate driving dynamics such as the vehicle speed per acceleration (v·apos) and the relative positive acceleration (RPA) to determine whether the driving during these tests is normal or abnormal. However, this is not an appropriate way to assess the driving dynamics because the v⋅apos and the RPA do not represent engine load, which is directly related to exhaust emissions. Therefore, in the present study, new driving dynamic variables are proposed. These variables use engine acceleration calculated from wheel force instead of the acceleration calculated from the vehicle speed, so they are proportional to the engine load. In addition, a variable of driving dynamics during braking is calculated using the negative wheel force. This variable can be used to improve the accuracy of the emission assessment by analyzing the braking pattern.

Automated Audiometry in Quiet and Simulated Exam Room Noise for Listeners with Normal Hearing and Impaired Hearing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna N. Bean ◽  
Richard A. Roberts ◽  
Erin M. Picou ◽  
Gina P. Angley ◽  
Amanda J. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Pure Tone ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Automated Testing ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Step Size ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Exam Room ◽  
Controlled Environments ◽  
Air Conduction

Abstract Background Up to 80% of audiograms could be automated which would allow more time for provision of specialty services. Ideally, automated audiometers would provide accurate results for listeners with impaired hearing as well as normal hearing. Additionally, accurate results should be provided both in controlled environments like a sound-attenuating room but also in test environments that may support greater application when sound-attenuating rooms are unavailable. Otokiosk is an iOS-based system that has been available for clinical use, but there are not yet any published validation studies using this product. Purpose The purpose of this project was to complete a validation study on the OtoKiosk automated audiometry system in quiet and in low-level noise, for listeners with normal hearing and for listeners with impaired hearing. Research Design Pure tone air conduction thresholds were obtained for each participant for three randomized conditions: standard audiometry, automated testing in quiet, and automated testing in noise. Noise, when present, was 35 dBA overall and was designed to emulate an empty medical exam room. Study Sample Participants consisted of 11 adults with hearing loss and 15 adults with normal hearing recruited from the local area. Data Collection and Analysis Thresholds were measured at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz using the Otokiosk system that incorporates a modified Hughson-Westlake method. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and also by a linear mixed-effects model to compare thresholds obtained in each condition. Results Across condition and participant group 73.6% of thresholds measured with OtoKiosk were within ± 5 dB of the conventionally measured thresholds; 92.8% were within ± 10 dB. On average, differences between tests were small. Pairwise comparisons revealed thresholds were ∼3.5–4 dB better with conventional audiometry than with the mobile application in quiet and in noise. Noise did not affect thresholds measured with OtoKiosk. Conclusions The OtoKiosk automated hearing test measured pure tone air conduction thresholds from 500 - 4000 Hz at slightly higher thresholds than conventional audiometry, but less than the smallest typical 5 dB clinical step-size. Our results suggest OtoKiosk is a reasonable solution for sound booths and exam rooms with low-level background noise.

Effects of Access Features and Interaction Among Driveways as Investigated by Simulation

2000 ◽  
Vol 1706 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Prassas ◽  
Jin Shenk Prassas
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Vehicle Speed ◽  
Queue Size ◽  
Access Management ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Analytic Investigation ◽  
Vehicle Delay ◽  
Sheltering Effect ◽  
Better Than

The number, placement, and design features of driveways are important issues in access management. Simulation was used extensively so that the key parameters and variables could be controlled efficiently and so that underlying effects could be studied systematically. Some results were not surprising: deceleration lanes are important, as are acceleration lanes; the presence of driveways has some adverse effect on arterial through-vehicle speed; and the effect is greater as the number of driveways increases. But the emphasis was placed also on the effects on driveway traffic, in terms of driveway per-vehicle delay and queuing. For multiple driveways, the effect on the first (most upstream) driveway of the presence of the others was dramatic. Delay and maximum queue size increased significantly, indicating a substantial reduction in driveway capacity. This reduction was estimated at 30 to 50 percent by an analytic investigation. The effect of adding one downstream driveway was equivalent to increasing the arterial volume by 25 percent in the moderate-to-heavy flow range. Finally, the multiple driveway work revealed an oddity in that the downstream driveway performed better than it would have if it were alone. The authors attribute this to the decreased arterial environment and the “sheltering” effect of the turbulence from the upstream driveway.

Intelligibility of Modified Speech for Young Listeners With Normal and Impaired Hearing

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1027-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalie M. Uchanski ◽  
Ann E. Geers ◽  
Athanassios Protopapas
Keyword(s):  
Speech Processing ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Processing Conditions ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Listening In Noise ◽  
Hearing Children ◽  
Impaired Children ◽  
Hearing Impaired Children

Exposure to modified speech has been shown to benefit children with languagelearning impairments with respect to their language skills (M. M. Merzenich et al., 1998; P. Tallal et al., 1996). In the study by Tallal and colleagues, the speech modification consisted of both slowing down and amplifying fast, transitional elements of speech. In this study, we examined whether the benefits of modified speech could be extended to provide intelligibility improvements for children with severe-to-profound hearing impairment who wear sensory aids. In addition, the separate effects on intelligibility of slowing down and amplifying speech were evaluated. Two groups of listeners were employed: 8 severe-to-profoundly hearingimpaired children and 5 children with normal hearing. Four speech-processing conditions were tested: (1) natural, unprocessed speech; (2) envelope-amplified speech; (3) slowed speech; and (4) both slowed and envelope-amplified speech. For each condition, three types of speech materials were used: words in sentences, isolated words, and syllable contrasts. To degrade the performance of the normal-hearing children, all testing was completed with a noise background. Results from the hearing-impaired children showed that all varieties of modified speech yielded either equivalent or poorer intelligibility than unprocessed speech. For words in sentences and isolated words, the slowing-down of speech had no effect on intelligibility scores whereas envelope amplification, both alone and combined with slowing-down, yielded significantly lower scores. Intelligibility results from normal-hearing children listening in noise were somewhat similar to those from hearing-impaired children. For isolated words, the slowing-down of speech had no effect on intelligibility whereas envelope amplification degraded intelligibility. For both subject groups, speech processing had no statistically significant effect on syllable discrimination. In summary, without extensive exposure to the speech processing conditions, children with impaired hearing and children with normal hearing listening in noise received no intelligibility advantage from either slowed speech or envelope-amplified speech.

On-board online evaluation of the charge density in internal combustion engines through electrical discharge characteristics

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 341-348
Author(s):  
Nir Druker ◽  
Gideon Goldwine ◽  
Eran Sher
Keyword(s):  
Charge Density ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Cycle Basis ◽  
Spark Timing ◽  
Propulsion Unit

We propose here a new method to evaluate the mixture charge density inside the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. This is an important parameter that is needed to optimize the spark timing and the amount of fuel that is introduced to the cylinder at each cycle, thus optimizing the engine operation for higher power, lower brake-specific fuel consumption, or lower pollutants’ emission at any altitude/ambient conditions. The evaluation of the charge density is performed at each cycle (on a cycle-to-cycle basis) by using the voltage–current characteristics of the spark plug gap. This real-time evaluation method may save two of the present in-use temperature and pressure gages, thus considerably increasing the reliability of the propulsion unit. Owing to the expected higher system reliability and system simplicity, small unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as small automotive engines of various types, may significantly benefit from this proposed method. The method principles, rationale, and some preliminary results are presented.

scholarly journals Optimal and prototype dimensioning of 48V P0+P4 hybrid drivetrains

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 173-186
Author(s):  
Matthias Werra ◽  
Axel Sturm ◽  
Ferit Küçükay
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Electric Machine ◽  
Prototype Model ◽  
Vehicle Speed ◽  
Conventional Vehicle ◽  
Light Duty ◽  
Consumption Reduction ◽  
And Performance

Abstract This paper presents a virtual toolchain for the optimal concept and prototype dimensioning of 48 V hybrid drivetrains. First, this toolchain is used to dimension the drivetrain components for a 48 V P0+P4 hybrid which combines an electric machine in the belt drive of the internal combustion engine and a second electric machine at the rear axle. On an optimal concept level, the power and gear ratios of the electric components in the 48 V system are defined for the best fuel consumption and performance. In the second step, the optimal P0+P4 drivetrain is simulated with a prototype model using a realistic rule-based operating strategy to determine realistic behavior in legal cycles and customer operation. The optimal variant shows a fuel consumption reduction in the Worldwide harmonized Light Duty Test Cycle of 13.6 % compared to a conventional vehicle whereas the prototype simulation shows a relatively higher savings potential of 14.8 %. In the prototype simulation for customer operation, the 48 V hybrid drivetrain reduces the fuel consumption by up to 24.6 % in urban areas due to a high amount of launching and braking events. Extra-urban and highway areas show fuel reductions up to 11.6 % and 4.2 %, respectively due to higher vehicle speed and power requirements. The presented virtual toolchain can be used to combine optimal concept dimensioning with close to reality behaviour simulations to maximise realistic statements and minimize time effort.

Coding Medium and Word Recall by Deaf and Hearing Subjects

1970 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope B. Odom ◽  
Richard L. Blanton ◽  
Cynthia K. McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Fifth Graders ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Word Recall ◽  
Superior Recall ◽  
Study Test ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Better Than

Forty deaf subjects were compared with 40 fifth graders with normal hearing on the learning of 16 English words. Eight of the words had sign equivalents; eight did not. The task consisted of eight study-test trials. Analysis of the mean number of correct responses showed higher recall of signable than unsignable words. The deaf recalled all words better than the hearing, but this advantage was due primarily to the deaf’s superior recall of the signable words. It was concluded that having a single sign equivalent for a word facilitated its recall.

Modulation Detection Interference in Listeners With Normal and Impaired Hearing

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sid P. Bacon ◽  
Jane M. Opie
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Frequency Region ◽  
Unilateral Hearing Loss ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Sensation Level ◽  
Bilateral Hearing Loss ◽  
Cochlear Hearing Loss ◽  
Modulation Detection Interference

Listeners were asked to detect amplitude modulation (AM) of a target (or signal) carrier that was presented in isolation or in the presence of an additional (masker) carrier. The signal was modulated at a rate of 10 Hz, and the masker was unmodulated or was modulated at a rate of 2, 10, or 40 Hz. Nine listeners had normal hearing, 4 had a bilateral hearing loss, and 4 had a unilateral hearing loss; those with a unilateral loss were tested in both ears. The listeners with a hearing loss had normal hearing at 1 kHz and a 30- to 40-dB loss at 4 kHz. The carrier frequencies were 984 and 3952 Hz. In one set of conditions, the lower frequency carrier was the signal and the higher frequency carrier was the masker. In the other set, the reverse was true. For the impaired ears, the carriers were presented at 70 dB SPL. For the normal ears, either the carriers were both presented at 70 dB SPL or the higher frequency carrier was reduced to 40 dB SPL to simulate the lower sensation level experienced by the impaired ears. There was considerable individual variability in the results, and there was no clear effect of hearing loss. These results suggest that a mild, presumably cochlear hearing loss does not affect the ability to process AM in one frequency region in the presence of competing AM from another region.

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