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Eight Simple Recommendations for Good Acoustical Etiquette
in the Open Plan Office – Technical Bulletin #15
Some common-sense guidelines for satisfactory acoustical etiquette in open offices.

Herman Miller Productivity Study
Sound Masking in the Office: Reduce Noise Distractions to Increase Worker Productivity.
A study by Elaine Lewis, Peter Lemieux, David Sykes and Thomas Horrall.

Which is Better— Systems Above or In The Ceiling Tile?
Direct-field (in-the-ceiling-tile) speech privacy and sound masking systems are displacing conventional systems with loudspeakers mounted in the plenum. This paper discusses the relative advantages of the two systems.

The Color of Sound, What is White Noise?
As acousticians we often encounter the statement “I like pink noise better than white noise” – or some variant – when lay people discuss speech privacy or electronic background sound systems. Such statements reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the physics and role of background sound in reducing acoustical distraction in the workplace. This brief bulletin attempts to clarify what makes for an optimal background sound quality or frequency balance.

Background Sound Level and Uniformity Preferences in the Open Office
Acoustical comfort is an important goal of modern office design. But what factors actually contribute to the perception of acoustical comfort?

What Makes Sound Masking Systems Sound Good?
There is no magic. Any continuous loud noise will mask conversations. The trick is to use a masking sound that is both effective and unobtrusive. A masking sound should be pleasant and easily ignored.

HIPAA Privacy Enforcement Begins
This article appeared in AHLA's Health Lawyers Weekly in Octover 2003. Two recent HIPAA conferences reveal surprises about HIPAA enforcement as complaints flow into DHHS.