Most people often define noise simply as unwanted sound. It annoys, angers, frustrates, distracts, and creates stresses that could lead to physiological and psychological issues. Noise affects many aspects in everyday living.

In the workplace, noise is regarded as a major stressor that often causes employee dissatisfaction, lack of productivity, and impaired hearing or hearing loss. In United States alone, it is estimated that millions of people are exposed to dangerous levels of noise in the workplace due to the lack of appropriate office noise reduction applications, with one in every four workers developing hearing impairment over time. Firefighters, factory workers, construction workers, military personnel, farmers, heavy industry workers, musicians and entertainment industry professional are just some of the professions that have working environments that present dangerous levels of noise. Even office employees working in crowded office buildings where phones consistently ring and computers and air conditioners constantly hum in the background are faced with agitation and increased stress that noise creates.

Because of the hazard associated with office noise, many companies and organizations are now finding ways to reduce these health risks, and the use of white noise generator units is one of the primary solutions that they are now employing. Basically, such device emits unstructured sound in order to mask other sounds in the immediate environment. Most devices or machines that are touted as white noise equipments often play nature sounds like waterfalls, wind, and rain rather than a genuine white noise, which can be harsh to the ears.

Nowadays, white noise machines are created by different manufacturers in all sorts of forms and functions. There are white noise machines used as audio testing equipments, speech privacy systems, sleep aid devices as well as power nap machines. Sleep-aid and nap machine products are often applied to induce sleep by producing soothing sounds mixed with or modulated by white noise. They can also be used by people suffering from tinnitus and migraine to reduce the discomforts induced by these conditions.

When it comes to the workplace, white noise generator units are primarily used as sound masking machines that could enhance privacy by drowning foreign sounds like distant conversations and phone rings. Suppose an employee is always bothered by the chatter and conversations coming from the cubicle next to the space he or she occupies; the employee could use a clock radio that has a white noise application to drown such distracting sounds. Accordingly, studies have shown that the use of white noise devices could profoundly contribute acoustic satisfaction to employees, especially those who are working in open-plan offices, or those work areas that lack walls and doors, such as cubicles.

Almost all white noise generator devices today are powered electronically. However, you could still find white noise devices that have simple mechanical structure made up of an enclosed fan with a speed switch. The fan is what drives the air through the small slots in the machine’s housing, which in turn is capable of masking other sounds. Hence, if you’ve noticed that your employees are distracted, stressed and are starting to become unproductive, it’s time that you consider implementing the use of white noise devices in your office.

If you’re employees are having a hard time focusing on their work because of the noise inside the workplace, it is about time that you consider using a white noise generator. Basically, the application of a white noise device and speech privacy system in the office is a good means to drown out distracting sounds that often affect the productivity and satisfaction of workers. With the aid of this tool, your office would become an area conducive for work.

- Frank Barnett

Noise is one of the most irritating elements in the workplace. From gossips, texting, keyboard tapping, bathroom trips, social coffee breaks to whirring machines, it’s definitely hard to focus on work for long when one is exposed to such office noise. This loss of time could then result in a staggering loss of productivity, which means a significant loss of profits on the part of the company. In fact, in 2008 alone, an estimated $600 billion were lost due to these office distractions.

Recurrent exposure to undesirable office noise is believed to be closely related to different stress effects affecting employees. These include elevated levels of cardiovascular and neuroendocrine activities, loss of concentration, fatigue and reduced motivation. Studies also imply that the effect of noise on employee performance is dependent on a number of factors such as the nature of the noise as well as the kind of task being done while hearing such noise. As a result, the effects of random noise are more harsh in comparison to predictable noise. Similarly, the impact of noise, be it unpredictable or not, multiplies in times when the task being done is complex.

Office noise is also associated with a number of psychosocial conditions. Consequently, it has been found out that such type of noise could amplify the diastolic blood pressure of employees who are unhappy with their jobs and employees who are not given appropriate support by their co-workers and bosses. Compared to workers who experience no change or reductions in noise, employees who frequently experience more workplace noise after relocating from one point inside the office to another are more likely to become less satisfied with their new work environment and could easily become less satisfied with their jobs in general.

With the aforementioned effects associated with work noise, as the person in charge inside the workplace, it is just reasonable that you would like your workers to exemplify productivity on their assigned jobs. And, it is likely that if you could easily blot out these disruptive elements without necessarily shelling out excessive amounts in order to boost the satisfaction and productivity of your employees, you would certainly do it yourself. There are a number of competitively priced speech privacy systems available today that you could use to control the problem at hand.

Many companies are now using a noise reduction system known as sound masking. Also referred to as “white noise,” this system has the capability to make a productive and noise-free work environment by blocking out disruptive sounds, which in turn allow employees to focus on their jobs. This system has a technology that follows the principle of oral privacy-a process through which speech and other types of disruptive sounds are made fathomless to the human ears. The process is done by filling in the occupied sound spectrum enclosing the employees with noise that is barely audible to the ears but could overpower other disruptive sounds.

Mechanical devices that are engineered to eliminate noise and natural office landscapes can be used as means of sound masking. Indoors, machines producing calming sounds resembling air conditioning noise are being utilized to block out outdoor noise and to secure sensitive information or conversations. Outdoors, this system can be in the form of serene waterfalls or a bubbling fountain. Once these privacy systems are stored in proper locations inside the office, you could definitely expect a happier and healthier working environment and more productive employees.

As the manager or officer-in-charge of your workplace, it is just reasonable that you would like to see your employees working productively throughout the day. In order to achieve this, you have to make sure that office noise is not hindering your employees from working properly. There are many ways through which you can make a working environment noise free. The easiest means is to integrate speech privacy systems, such as sound masking, that could make noise unintelligible and less disruptive.

- Frank Barnett

Global crisis has driven more and more companies to find ways, cope with the hard times, and boost up revenue.Many companies opted to minimize costs by reducing manpower resources and different cost-cutting measures on expenses, while others prefer to find ways of improving revenue through employee productivity.

Among the most popular choices in maintaining and increasing employee efficiency is the use of office sound masking systems.These systems help office employees concentrate on their daily office chores and not be disturbed by various uncontrollable noises such as beeping machines, ringing phones, or even heels clicking on the hallways.Such distractions are proven to leave a lasting negative effect on employee productivity when experienced on a regular basis.

And how exactly do office sound masking systems do this?At present, there are two types of masking systems used by different companies, depending on their office building structure and budget as well.The first type is the indirect field method, which was developed in the 1960s.It involves large speakers, which are mounted above the ceiling, blasting sound towards the concrete deck above.This setup, though, requires thorough tuning by professionals.

Office sound masking systems also come in another, more modern type – the direct field method, which uses the advancement of technology on speakers.In this method, the speakers are installed directly in the ceiling, as the name suggests, instead of above it.So far, because it is pretty much maintenance-free and less equipments needed for it to work, this type is considered to be more cost-efficient and effective.Both types, however, work on increasing sound uniformity precision to be able to mask office sounds.

Minimizing or total elimination of private offices is one of the cost-cutting efforts of several companies.This enables the company to save on space and improve employee interaction, that’s why it has been one of the most effective cost-cutting efforts.Office sound masking systems boosts up the efficiency of employees in open office plans by decreasing the disturbing sounds that are usually caused by a crowd sharing a work space.

To make office sound masking systems work for your benefit, be mindful of the system’s technical details.You are encouraged to consult with professional acoustic engineers so you won’t get carried away with your suppliers’ sales talk.Keep in mind that the supplier who has the patience to explain everything to you is the one who is confident with their service.

The key to getting office sound masking systems to work for you is being certain about the technical details of the system.It is a good idea to consult with professional acoustic engineers to avoid getting carried away with a supplier’s convincing but empty sales talk.Remember to get services of a supplier who really believes in the masking system they are offering.

- Bill Darling

White noise is the art and science of using consistent background noise to cover up distracting and even irritating sounds in an environment. White noise can be invaluable when you need to tune out the excess noise around you. It can create a more relaxed environment with greater productivity and less distraction.

Here are a five practical ways that white noise can help you.

1. For work. In most office environments, a worker loses more than two hours of work because of distractions and interruptions. Portable white noise covers up those distracting conversations and lets you focus on your work. A sound masking system throughout the office will benefit everyone in the office.

2. For sleep. Do you ever have trouble falling (or staying) asleep because of annoying sounds? White noise covers up interruptive sound, helping you sleep through street noise, or unfamiliar hotel sounds while traveling. The result is a better night’s sleep at home or on the road.

3. For kids. Sound machines can work wonders with kid’s sensitive sleep schedules. Maybe your children are sharing a room for the first time, or you want them to easily sleep through the noise of your dinner party. White noise can ensure good, uninterrupted sleep for your little ones, which means better sleep for you, too.

4. For relaxation. After a long day at work, you want to come home to relax and unwind, but a barking dog across the street is interrupting your reverie. Instead, try a sound machine with nature sounds. Kick up your feet and enjoy the waves crashing on the shore as you read a book or browse the newspaper.

5. For tinnitus. Ringing in your ears, also known as tinnitus can be very distracting and uncomfortable. Sound therapy can lower the discomfort of tinnitus and allow you to relax.

Personal white noise provides a more focused environment, free of intrusive and distracting noise. This can increase your productivity at work, or provide you with a more restful night’s sleep. Through office-wide sound masking, the entire office can benefit from the added concentration and privacy. Try sound masking for yourself, and begin enjoying the benefits of improved concentration and better sleep!

- C. Sumner

What is white noise?

White noise describes sound created from all the frequencies in the audible spectrum, just like white light is created from all the colors in the visible spectrum. Today’s technology, however, focuses the sound on the frequency range of human speech.

Now you are probably wondering how adding noise can help with concentration and productivity. Picture for a moment that you are in a dark room and someone across the room is randomly blinking a flashlight at you. The flashlight is very distracting and even irritating. But what happens if someone turns on the overhead lights? You hardly notice the flashlight because it is covered by the bright overhead lights.

Sound machines work on a similar principle. By adding general white noise, similar to that of a fan or an AC unit, distracting sounds around you, like conversations, street noise or neighbors, are hardly noticeable.

Does white noise really work?

Yes. The principles behind it may seem implausible, the application has helped many people improve concentration and productivity. Government agencies were the first to apply this technology because of its effectiveness. Other industries have also greatly benefited from the privacy and productivity white noise can provide. The result is that private conversations are not overheard, and office noise is not longer a huge distraction for workers.

Why use white noise?

White noise helps you tune out invasive sounds. Here are just a few of the situations where white noise can benefit you.

Less distraction at work – A local white noise machine masks conversations and other office noise around you, helping you better concentrate on your work. Sound masking installed in the entire office space will benefit the entire office.

Improved privacy and confidentiality – In industries requiring greater confidentiality (such as hospitals, government offices, counseling, etc.), sound masking systems use white noise is designed to cover human speech so people who aren’t in the conversation cannot hear the conversation.

Less interrupted sleep – Using a sound machine while sleeping will cover up the jolting sounds from neighbors or street noise, letting you sleep longer with less interruptions.

Sound therapy for tinnitus – Some sound therapies have been proven to lessen the discomfort caused by ‘ringing in your ears’ or tinnitus.

White noise by not be for everyone, but many people have used sound masking to increase their productivity at work and decrease their interruptions at night. There are free white noise generators and portable sound machines that make it easy to try for yourself. The benefits are definitely worth it!

- C. Sumner