Acoustic Biotopes, Listeners and Sound-Induced Action: A Case Study of Operating Rooms

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Auditory Perception and Action
• Ecological Acoustics

Background:

• Socio-technological environments significantly influence listener behavior.
• An ecological framework is necessary to understand complex listening scenarios involving multiple listeners, sounds, and actions.
• The concept of "acoustic biotopes" offers a novel ecological perspective on sound environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore sound-induced action within the framework of acoustic biotopes.
• To investigate the specific socio-technological environment of an orthopaedic operating room.
• To develop a human-centered definition of sound-induced action in acoustic biotopes.

Main Methods:

• Literature research in environmental psychology and auditory perception.
• In situ observations in a healthcare setting.
• Field recordings, participatory observations, and interviews.

Main Results:

• Defined acoustic biotope as an active, shared sound environment with entangled interactions and sound-induced actions in a functional space.
• Listening in functional environments is individual, influenced by hearing, position, role, and task.
• Identified active/passive listeners and listeners as sound sources, with sounds offering critical information.

Conclusions:

• Complex listening in functional environments is a multi-layered, listener-centric experience.
• Findings are directly applicable to optimizing operating room acoustic environments.
• Improved acoustic design can enhance listening and sound-induced actions for better mission success.