Yes, it’s me – The Noise Doctor. I’m back with the NoiseNews Round-Up. I’ll be bringing you some of the latest and quirkiest noise-related news stories from around the world. In this edition, I’m looking at the top 10 noisiest dogs, Pokémon Go, cinema snacks and opera. Let’s get started.
Ssssh! – Silent Snacks are Heading to the Big Screen at Last!
Cinema may never be the same again thanks to a London company. They have invented a range of silent snacks to take the stress of rustling sweet wrappers away for good.
Apparently, having somebody eating a snack next to you at the cinema is more annoying than a mobile phone going off. In fact a whopping 54% of Brits said they found noisy eating habits the most irritating. We did our own research for the BBC’s The One Show.
Today, Tix has joined with food company Teatime productions to invent a range of ‘silent snacks’ that includes Silent Slices (crisps made from dried pears), Quiet(Pop)corn and Muffled Truffles.
It’s not just the food that’s hushed, but the packaging too. The company has opted for silicone and soft fabrics as opposed to crinkly foil packaging that are at the root of a lot of snack-related noise.
Top Dogs for all the Wrong Reasons
Some dog breeds are known for their tendency to talk. They might not have the loudest of barks, but they’re rarely at a loss for woofs.
In a silly season survey of 250 UK vets, here’s the top 10 dogs to avoid if you want a quiet life:
Will there be an howls of protest from outraged owners?
Motorway Noise Barriers Now the Norm
A major resurfacing project to reduce noise pollution on large stretches of the M40 has started.
Noise-reducing barriers will be installed along sections in Buckinghamshire, and a worn out section in south Oxfordshire will be replaced.
Highways England is targeting noise pollution between Loudwater (near Junction 3) and Wheatley (near Junction 8). Noise barriers will also be set up near High Wycombe, and Lane End, Stokenchurch and Chepping Wycombe villages.
Highways England added it would “significantly contribute to reducing noise and improving the quality of life for residents”.
The project is expected to be completed by Christmas.
Wuff Justice?
Yes, dogs are in the news again for being noisy. A heated debate is going on in the glamourous surroundings of Los Angeles with proposals. There are proposals to amend a current law that makes persistent dog barking an offence.
The why and wherefores are still to be worked out and debated by the city’s council but at the moment the proposal defines ‘excessive dog noise’ as “barking that is continuously audible for ten minutes or intermittently audible for 30 minutes within a three-hour period.”
Sounds like Cirrus’ Trojan2 Noise Nuisance Recorder will go down a storm in Hollywood. To read the full debate go here.
Latest Tech Sees Off Low Key Office Noise
The clickety click of keyboards is pretty much a constant in most offices these days but Logitech is using the latest technology to beat the tapping.
Logitech has announced two new mice that are basically the opposite of a mechanical keyboard – they are apparently so good they have been awarded the Quiet Mark seal of approval from the UK Noise Abatement Society. The company says it has engineered the M220 Silent and the M330 Silent Plus to register the same clicking tactility but with over 90 percent noise reduction.
Pokémon Go – Away!
The Pokémon Go craze has gone global with an estimated 231 million people engaged in 1.1 billion sessions already.
However, as fans flock to the streets to find the elusive creatures it has also sparked a series of complaints from Sydney residents who are complaining about the noise they make as they go Pokémon hunting. In Australia and New Zealand alone they estimate 100 million mobile users having downloaded the App in just a month.
Noise Trouble Down Under
An Aussie opera lover who was repeatedly arrested for refusing to turn down her classical tunes now owes hundreds of dollars from previous fines.
Anne Elizabeth Tipping’s love of loud opera music led to police being called three times after complaints from neighbours. The 51-year-old pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour and received hefty fines for creating an environmental nuisance over the incidents.
Tipping moved and now lives next door to a 92-year-old woman who didn’t object to her operatic tastes. Magistrates said she could have saved herself a lot of trouble and expense if she would have just gone out and bought herself a pair of cheap headphones.
GWR Noise Levels Going Off the Rails?
Noise and air pollution from a new rail depot in Reading could prompt legal action, it has been warned.
Reading Borough Council is said it have written to Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) demanding action following complaints from residents. People in Cardiff Road had complained of trains parked in sidings with engines idling.
An online petition set up by residents living close to the GWR depot complained about “low-frequency noise” from trains idling in the early hours of the morning. The council has warned GWR and Network Rail it could face an abatement notice.
GWR has previously said the introduction of electric trains in 2019 will reduce the problem and the noise was within safe levels.
