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White Noise Systems: Improving Productivity

by Frank Barnett

What does it take to improve workplace productivity? Does it mean pressuring people to meet deadlines? Does it mean giving coworkers free rein to their working conditions, even if it hampers yours? It's amazing what unexpected, but effective solutions are available in this day and age, if you are willing to pitch in time and a bit of money.

This is where we can make use of white noise. This is random noise that, when captured by the human ear, does not have any corresponding meaning. To explain, when we hear a person talking we grasp their words as words. When we hear a line of music, we understand it as music, even when that music is off-key. However, when listening to noise we associate no meaning to it other than as random sounds, meaning noise.

This noise has several real life applications. It is used in alleviating the aching feeling caused by tinnitis among tinnitis sufferers. It helps in testing audio singals in concert venues, especially outdoor venues. And it is used in the production of electronic music.

However, its most useful function is its ability to cut off background noise. This is in use in EMT, firefighter & police sirens, since they help increase the probability of hearing these emergency sirens. it is also in use in counseling and security situations, where privacy is vital.

But how does using white noise machines help improve office productivity? They do so by taking advantage of human nature. Your coworkers may often have to deal with auditory distractions of several kinds: office chatter, music playing, even the shuffling of steps. Adding noise makes all these distractions inconspicuous, allowing coworkers to focus on their tasks at hand.

Getting a white noise machine is a viable addition to your workplace, especially since there are different systems and office setups available. Even if there is no need for privacy solutions in your office, these are proven and effective productivity solutions.

White Noise Machines are a viable productivity solution in today's workplace. White noise has already been proven useful in different fields. These machines work because they take control of innate human behavior. By effectively blocking out external auditory distractions, they allow employees to focus on their tasks. Several kinds of machines and systems make them affordable but no less useful in any office setup.

Published August 25th, 2009

Filed in Business