Teaching Physics from the Din of Flying Discs #Acoustics23

Teaching Physics from the Din of Flying Discs #Acoustics23

Analyzing the sound of sailing discs can teach valuable signal processing lessons in an interactive way.

SYDNEY, Dec. 4, 2023 – Disc golf is booming, with record numbers of players turning up each year to partake in the disc-throwing sport. It is also whizzing and whistling. In fact, the sound a disc makes while soaring through the air toward its target is full of information about how fast the disc is flying and how quickly it spins.

This insight inspired Kyle S. Dalton of Penn State University to combine his two interests, disc golf and acoustics, into an interactive acoustic signal processing lesson. Dalton will present his work Dec. 4 at 3:40 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time as part of Acoustics 2023, running Dec. 4-8 at the International Convention Centre Sydney.

disc

Action shot of a person throwing a disc. This athletic pastime can help teach valuable lessons about signal processing by measuring the disc’s sound as it flies. Credit: Kyle S. Dalton

“When I took the introductory signal processing course in the acoustics curriculum, some of the example datasets we used came from noise sources such as aircraft, racecars, and fireworks displays,” said Dalton. “These datasets were effective for teaching new signal processing techniques, but those noise sources aren’t accessible to most students if they want to collect more data or experiment on their own.”

Dalton set three microphones in a line, spaced 25 feet apart, and connected them to equipment that converts each microphone’s signal to a data point on the computer. When he threw a disc with a small whistle mounted on top across the line of microphones, he recorded the flying disc’s acoustical signal.

“Listening to the disc allows me to capture multiple properties of the disc’s flight and observe the disc over a larger portion of its flight than is possible with some other measurement techniques,” Dalton said. “Radar guns are often used in disc golf to measure throw velocity, but don’t provide information on how fast the disc is spinning.”

Students can use the resulting dataset to learn basic processing tools and practice data visualization, using the Doppler shift to determine velocity, among other important lessons.

This experiment can be done in an open space, with a basic setup, and a practiced arm.

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Contact:
AIP Media
301-209-3090
media@aip.org

———————– MORE MEETING INFORMATION ———————–

The Acoustical Society of America is joining the Australian Acoustical Society to co-host Acoustics 2023 Sydney. This collaborative event will incorporate the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference.

Main meeting website: https://acoustics23sydney.org/
Technical program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAFALL23

ASA PRESS ROOM
In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS
ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are summaries (300-500 words) of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at
https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION
ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at media@aip.org. For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY
The Australian Acoustical Society (AAS) is the peak technical society for individuals working in acoustics in Australia. The AAS aims to promote and advance the science and practice of acoustics in all its branches to the wider community and provide support to acousticians. Its diverse membership is made up from academia, consultancies, industry, equipment manufacturers and retailers, and all levels of Government. The Society supports research and provides regular forums for those who practice or study acoustics across a wide range of fields The principal activities of the Society are technical meetings held by each State Division, annual conferences which are held by the State Divisions and the ASNZ in rotation, and publication of the journal Acoustics Australia. https://www.acoustics.org.au/

Press Conference Schedule: ASA Invites Media to Register for #Acoustics23

Media can register for Acoustics 2023 Sydney to learn more about needle-free vaccine delivery, automated pop song mashups, acoustic design in prisons, and advances in table tennis for people with vision loss.

#Acoustics23SYDNEY, Nov. 28, 2023 – Press conferences for Acoustics 2023 Sydney will be held virtually at 8:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time, Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. Media can register to attend the virtual press conferences as well as the in-person sessions by emailing media@aip.org.

Topics will focus on a wide range of newsworthy sessions from the upcoming meeting, which runs Dec. 4-8 in Sydney, Australia. This includes needle-free ultrasound-enhanced vaccine delivery, automated pop song mashups, impacts of acoustic design in prisons, and auditory sensory augmentation to support table tennis games for people with vision loss.

To register for in-person attendance or virtual press conferences, email media@aip.org. Video recordings of the press conference sessions will be available upon request.

 

Acoustics 2023 Sydney Press Conference Schedule

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 8:00 a.m. AEDT / Tuesday, Dec. 5, 4:00 p.m. Eastern, U.S.

  • Needle-free Ultrasound Vaccine Delivery – Darcy Dunn-Lawless, University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering
    Session 1aBA3 – Investigation of spatio-temporal inertial cavitation activity for optimization of needle-free ultrasound-enhanced vaccine delivery. Dec. 4, 11:00 am AEDT.
  • A Far-sighted Approach to Tackle Near-sightedness – Sally McFadden, University of Newcastle.
    Session 2aBA5 – Acoustical imaging and myopia, Dec. 5, 10:40 am AEDT.
  • Wearable Ultrasound Monitor Can Aid Rehabilitation from Injury – Parag Chitnis, George Mason University.
    Session 2pBAb11 – Wearable ultrasound system for assessing muscle function during physical activity, Dec. 5, 5:00 pm AEDT.

 

Thursday, Dec. 7, 8:00 a.m. AEDT / Wednesday, Dec. 6, 4:00 p.m. Eastern, U.S.

  • Taming Noise Behind Bars – James Boland, SLR Consulting.
    Session 3pAAb1 – Harmony behind bars: Unravelling the impacts of acoustic design in prisons, Dec. 6, 2:40 p.m. AEDT.
  • Making Table Tennis Accessible for Blind Players – Phoebe Peng, The University of Sydney.
    Session 3aPP7 – Auditory sensory augmentation to support table tennis games for people with vision loss, Dec. 6, 10:20 a.m. AEDT.
  • Software DJ Creates Automated Pop Song – Xinyang Wu, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
    Session 4pMU10– An automated pop song mashup system using drum swapping, Dec. 7, 4:20 p.m. AEDT.
  • Vocal Fry: A Sonic Feature of a Diverse City – Hannah White, Macquarie University.
    Session 5aSCa4 – Creaky voice prevalence across Sydney, Dec. 8, 9:40 a.m. AEDT.
  • Singing in the Rain: Why the Bundengan Sounds Better Wet – Gea Oswah Fatah Parikesit, Universitas Gadjah Mada.
    Session 3aMU8 – Why bundengan musicians always drench their instruments prior to playing, Dec. 6, 10:40 am AEDT.
  • Teaching Physics from the Din of Flying Discs – Kyle S. Dalton, Penn State University.
    Session 1pED8 – Flying disc noise as an introduction to acoustic signal processing, Dec. 4, 3:40 pm AEDT.
  • Picking Up Good Vibrations: the Surprising Physics of the Didjeridu – Joe Wolfe and John Smith, The University of New South Wales.
    Session 3aMU2 – Didjeridu acoustics: A review, Dec. 6, 8:20 a.m. AEDT.

###

Contact:
AIP Media
301-209-3090
media@aip.org

———————– MORE MEETING INFORMATION ———————–
The Acoustical Society of America is joining the Australian Acoustical Society to co-host Acoustics 2023 Sydney. This collaborative event will incorporate the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference.

Main meeting website: https://acoustics23sydney.org/
Technical program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAFALL23

ASA PRESS ROOM
In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS
ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are 300 to 500 word summaries of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION
ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at media@aip.org.  For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY
The Australian Acoustical Society (AAS) is the peak technical society for individuals working in acoustics in Australia. The AAS aims to promote and advance the science and practice of acoustics in all its branches to the wider community and provide support to acousticians. Its diverse membership is made up from academia, consultancies, industry, equipment manufacturers and retailers, and all levels of Government. The Society supports research and provides regular forums for those who practice or study acoustics across a wide range of fields The principal activities of the Society are technical meetings held by each State Division, annual conferences which are held by the State Divisions and the ASNZ in rotation, and publication of the journal; Acoustics Australia https://www.acoustics.org.au/.

Acoustical Society of America Invites Media to Sydney Meeting, Dec. 4-8 #Acoustics23

Acoustical Society of America Invites Media to Sydney Meeting, Dec. 4-8 #Acoustics2023

In-person meeting and virtual press conferences to highlight international advancements in science of sound

Media Contact:
AIP Media
301-209-3090
media@aip.org

#Acoustics23SYDNEY, Nov. 17, 2023 – The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and the Australian Acoustical Society are co-hosting Acoustics 2023 Sydney, Dec. 4-8 at the International Convention Centre Sydney, Australia. This collaborative event will incorporate the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference. In-person sessions will be open to media thorough the week and virtual press conferences featuring a selection of newsworthy sessions will be hosted online – schedule forthcoming.

The scientific conference brings together acousticians, researchers, musicians, and more experts from around the world. While in Sydney, they will describe their work on various topics including needle-free ultrasound-enhanced vaccine delivery, automated pop song mashups, impacts of acoustic design in prisons, and auditory sensory augmentation to support table tennis games for people with vision loss. Conference highlights can be found on social media by searching the #Acoustics23 hashtag.

Reporters are invited to attend in-person (registration details below). Media are also encouraged to participate in a series of virtual press conferences featuring a selection of newsworthy topics mid-week, schedule to be announced soon. Media may register to join the press conferences virtually. Times and topics will be announced in the coming weeks, and journalists may pre-register by emailing media@aip.org.

——————— SAMPLING OF INTERESTING SESSIONS ——————–

  • 4pMU10 – An automated pop song mashup system using drum swapping
  • 1aBA3 – Investigation of spatio-temporal inertial cavitation activity for optimization of needle-free ultrasound-enhanced vaccine delivery
  • 3pAAb1 – Harmony behind bars: Unravelling the impacts of acoustic design in prisons
  • 3aPP7 – Auditory sensory augmentation to support table tennis games for people with vision loss
  • 2pBAb11 – Wearable ultrasound system for assessing muscle function during physical activity
  • 3aMU8 – Why bundengan musicians always drench their instruments prior to playing
  • 5aSCa4 – Creaky voice prevalence across Sydney

More information on these and all other meeting sessions is available via ASA’s meeting page and in the technical program:

Main meeting website: https://acoustics23sydney.org/
Technical program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAFALL23

———————– MORE MEETING INFORMATION ———————–

The Acoustical Society of America is joining the Australian Acoustical Society to co-host Acoustics 2023 Sydney. This collaborative event will incorporate the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference.

Main meeting website: https://acoustics23sydney.org/
Technical program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAFALL23

ASA PRESS ROOM
In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS
ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are 300 to 500 word summaries of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION
ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at media@aip.org.  For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY
The Australian Acoustical Society (AAS) is the peak technical society for individuals working in acoustics in Australia. The AAS aims to promote and advance the science and practice of acoustics in all its branches to the wider community and provide support to acousticians. Its diverse membership is made up from academia, consultancies, industry, equipment manufacturers and retailers, and all levels of Government. The Society supports research and provides regular forums for those who practice or study acoustics across a wide range of fields The principal activities of the Society are technical meetings held by each State Division, annual conferences which are held by the State Divisions and the ASNZ in rotation, and publication of the journal; Acoustics Australia https://www.acoustics.org.au/.

Hard-of-Hearing Music Fans Prefer a Different Sound

Hard-of-Hearing Music Fans Prefer a Different Sound

Modern music can be inaccessible to those with hearing loss; sound mixing tweaks could make a difference.

Listeners with hearing loss can struggle to make out vocals and certain frequencies in modern music. Credit: Aravindan Joseph Benjamin

WASHINGTON, August 22, 2023 – Millions of people around the world experience some form of hearing loss, resulting in negative impacts to their health and quality of life. Treatments exist in the form of hearing aids and cochlear implants, but these assistive devices cannot replace the full functionality of human hearing and remain inaccessible for most people. Auditory experiences, such as speech and music…click to read more

From: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Article: Exploring level- and spectrum-based music mixing transforms for hearing-impaired listeners
DOI: 10.1121/10.0020269

Acoustical Society of America Announces Winners of Science Communication Awards

Acoustical Society of America Announces Winners of Science Communication Awards

Acoustical Society of America (ASA) LogoMelville, June 28, 2023 – The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is pleased to announce the winners of the Science Communication Awards, recognizing excellence in the presentation of acoustics related topics to a popular audience.

Each non-ASA member award includes a $2,500 cash prize and a $1,000 reimbursement to attend the awards ceremony at the 186th ASA Meeting taking place in Ottawa, Canada, 13-17 May 2024. Each ASA member award includes a $1,000 cash prize. The winners of the 2023 ASA Science Communication Awards are as follows:

Non-acoustic Expert Multimedia Winner
In the SciShow episode, “5 Places with Amazing Acoustics from Thousands of Years Ago,” show host Hank Green captivates the audience with insightful exploration of acoustics in historical settings. Viewers are transported to ancient venues renowned for their exceptional soundscapes and learn about what acoustic phenomena are taking place. Through engaging storytelling and accessible explanations, this SciShow episode brings the wonders of acoustics to life, inspiring viewers to appreciate the acoustic marvels of the past.

Honorable mentions in this category go to Bartosz Ciechenowski’s interactive science blog, Sound and the Short Wave podcast episode, Experience The Quietest Place On Earth, hosted by Margaret Cirino, Regina G. Barber, and Gabriel Spitzer.

Acoustic Expert Multimedia Winner
The Rest is Just Noise Podcast stands out as a remarkable audio journey into the realm of acoustics. With deep knowledge and captivating storytelling, co-hosts Dr. Andrew Mitchell, Dr. Francesco Aletta, and Dr. Tin Oberman explore various acoustical phenomena and their impact on our lives. Through interviews with experts and immersive soundscapes, this podcast educates and entertains listeners, creating a space where the beauty and significance of acoustics are celebrated.

Honorable mentions go to the Listen Lab video, What should Ant-Man’s voice sound like when he changes size?, created by Matthew Winn and the documentary, Fathom, directed by Drew Xanthopoulos and featuring Ellen Garland and Michelle Fournet.

Long Form Print Winner
David George Haskell’s Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution’s Creativity, and The Crisis of Sensory Extinction emerges as a thought-provoking exploration of the intricate relationship between sound, nature, and human existence. Haskell masterfully weaves together scientific research, personal anecdotes, and philosophical reflections to highlight the urgency of preserving our sonic ecosystems. With eloquence and depth, this book challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with sound and the natural world.

Honorable mentions go to Karen Bakker’s The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology Is Bringing Us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants and Nina Kraus’ Of Sound Mind, How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World.

Short Form Print Winner
Ute Eberle’s captivating Knowable Magazine article, “Life in the Soil Was Thought to Be Silent. What If It Isn’t?,” shines a light on the often-overlooked acoustic richness beneath our feet. Eberle’s insightful exploration uncovers the hidden symphony of the soil, revealing the vital role sound plays in the ecosystem. Through her meticulous research and engaging prose, Eberle challenges preconceptions, opening a new realm of wonder and discovery.

Honorable mentions go to the Scientific American article, What Birds Really Listen for in Birdsong (It’s Not What You Think) by Adam Fishbein and Speaking in whistles by Bob Holmes, another Knowable Magazine article.

The 2023 award cycle reviewed content created between 2021 and 2022. A total of 73 nominations were received for the ASA Science Communication Awards, showcasing the breadth and depth of acoustics communication endeavors. The ASA extends its congratulations to the winners and honorable mentions for their exceptional contributions to acoustics communication. These projects have successfully bridged the gap between complex scientific concepts and the public, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation for the fascinating world of acoustics. The next award cycle will review content created between 2023 and 2024, with the call for nominations in the spring of 2025.

———————– MORE INFORMATION ———————–
ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its worldwide membership represents a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

High school students win special awards for acoustics science projects

High school students win special awards for acoustics science projects

The Acoustical Society of America presented four special awards at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2023

Melville, May 19, 2023 – The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) announced that four projects are the winners of the ASA Special Awards presented at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF). The top three finalists have been awarded cash prizes for their research and all four project finalists are invited to attend an ASA Meeting.

Shodai Tanaka of Sapporo Kaisei Secondary School located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan was awarded the ASA First Award of $1,500 for the project titled “A Mathematical Study About the Sustaining Phenomenon of Overtone in Flageolet Harmonics on Bowed String Instruments,” In addition, their school will be awarded $200, and their mentor will be awarded $500.

Anton Bulancea of Alexandr Pushkin Lyceum located in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, was awarded the ASA Second Award of $1,000 for the project tilted “Developing a New Acoustic Levitation Platform Design for Non-Contact Handling in Electronics Assembly,” In addition, their school will be awarded $100, and their mentor will be awarded $250.

Michelle Hua of Cranbrook Kingswood School located in Troy, MI, USA, was awarded the ASA Third Award of $600 for the project tilted “3D Acoustic Simulation and Optimization Algorithms for Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Delivered With Robotic Systems,” In addition, their Mentor will be awarded $150.

The ASA Honorable Mention went to Anu Iyer of Little Rock Central High School located in Little Rock, AR, USA for the project titled “VAST (Voice and Spiral Tool): A Novel Multimodal Machine Learning Method To Detect Parkinson’s Disease and Assess Severity.”

To read the project abstracts, visit https://exploresound.org/isef-asa-winners/

Shodai, Anton, Michelle, and Anu were finalists in at Regeneron ISEF, the world’s largest international pre-college STEM research competition. Owned and produced by the Society for Science, Regeneron ISEF provides a platform for the best and brightest young scientists to showcase their science, technology, engineering or math research. This year, more than 1,600 finalists from 64 countries, regions and territories competed for more than $9 million in awards and scholarships.

The ASA has participated at ISEF since 1978 to promote acoustics and recognize the accomplishments of high-school students. ASA’s long-time participation in Regeneron ISEF recognizes the importance of promoting STEM education and generating interest in acoustics among all students. This year, the ASA judging team was led by Peter Assmann (University of Texas at Dallas) and included Christopher Ainley (Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams, Inc.), Satwik Dutta (University of Texas at Dallas), Nursadul Mamun (University of Texas at Dallas), and Abbey Thomas (University of Texas at Dallas). The Society looks forward to seeing future accomplishments from the many talented youth who participated in the Regeneron ISEF!

———————– MORE INFORMATION ———————–
ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its worldwide membership represents a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.