An online ear training program designed for students, acousticians, and architects
Nozomi Kamiya, Ning Xiang, Mendel Kleiner · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2006
As part of a continuing research initiative at the Program in Architectural Acoustics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an online ear training program has been designed and implemented for scholars active in architectural acoustics, as well as professional acousticians and architects. The project aims to provide users the opportunity to learn to evaluate selected acoustical parameters without the employment of measurement equipment. The author believes that this training program will be indispensable for those who seek careers in fields related to acoustics for such skills are currently considered to be obtainable through professional experience in the field alone. The program was created using Macromedia Flash animations to develop an interactive training environment. Features such as user identification and an animated user interface create a personalized and entertaining experience while a score tracking system and high score table encourage friendly competition amongst users. As a result, users are compelled to return for successive training sessions which promote long-term growth and learning. Basic requirements for participation include an installed version of the Flash plug-in, an internet-enabled computer, and a pair of headphones.