The Audio and Acoustic Engineering Research Centre at the University of Salford is building a sound map of the world as part of a new study into how sounds in our everyday environment make us feel.
We’re calling people across the world to use their mobile phones (or another audio recording device if their phone is not compatible) to record 10-15 second clips from different sound environments, or ‘soundscapes’ from a family car journey to a busy shopping centre, and to upload them to our virtual map, along with their opinions of them and why they chose to record it.
Here is an example of an urban soundscape:
Recordings and responses will be analysed by acoustic scientists and significant findings will be reported on this website.
Sound Around You aims to raise awareness of how our soundscape influences us and could have far reaching implications for professions and social groups ranging from urban planners to house buyers.
• Record your soundscape and then enter your opinion on how it sounds when you are asked
• Complete the sound around you questionnaire as you make the recording so you can type in your ratings when you upload your sound file
or
• You then get the chance to enter more opinions and see and hear your contribution on our world soundscape map.
The Sound Around You soundscape map is a constantly expanding collection of soundscape recordings and responses.
As soon as a project participant uploads a new recording, it will be pin marked on the map. By clicking on a marker you can open up a window displaying the participants individual responses to the soundscape as well as the recording itself.
A soundscape map gives an insight into how soundscapes are perceived by different people in a given location. The map will be constantly evolving as it automatically retrieves new soundscapes from the database.
The addition of more soundscapes to the map brings about a more representative impression of the way in which people react to the sound around them.
If the soundscape location has a Google Streetview image where it was recorded, it will show here.
For technical help and information contact:
info@soundaroundyou.com
How can I download Sound Around You
Go to http://www.soundaroundyou.com/say in your mobile phone’s browser and follow the instructions to download Sound Around You J2ME.
How can I enter www.soundaroundyou.com/say in my mobile browser?
This is usually where you can enter a URL:
- Nokia: Menu -> Web -> enter www.soundaroundyou.com/say
- Sony Ericsson: Menu -> Internet -> right key -> Go to -> enter address-> enter www.soundaroundyou.com/say
- Samsung: Menu -> Browser -> enter address (sometimes http:// or URL) -> enter www.soundaroundyou.com/say
- Motorola: Menu -> Webaccess -> go to URL-> enter www.soundaroundyou.com/say
- LG: Menu -> Browser -> go to URL -> enter www.soundaroundyou.com/say
How do I know if my mobile phone is supported?
The Sound Around You Java software will work with most modern phones. If your phone is brand new, it might be the case that we have not added it to our ever growing list yet.
Go to the download page and open up the “Phone model selection” box to check.
I click on the download link, but nothing happens. I cannot connect.
Check if you can use mobile internet: surf to www.google.com with your mobile phone browser. If this is not possible, your mobile internet settings are not correct. Please contact your mobile operator to receive the correct settings. Often they are available on your operator’s website.
Should I install Sound Around You Java Edition in the phone memory or on my memory card?
Some mobile phones let you choose to install applications on either the phone memory or an external memory card. It doesn’t matter which one you choose.
Where can I find Sound Around You Java Edition after I have installed it?
This is very different per phone. You will find the Sound Around You Java Edition in one of the following locations:
- Nokia: My Own or Applications
- Sony Ericsson: Games or Applications
- Samsung: Java World
- Motorola: Games & Applications
- LG: My Own
- Windows Mobile: Start / Programs / Midlet Manager
- Blackberry: Home Screen
I get a message saying “Memory Full”.
If your memory is full, clear some space by erasing an application. Once there is sufficient space, try downloading Sound Around You Java Edition again.
Is Sound Around You free?
Sound Around You J2ME is free. But your mobile operator may charge you for using mobile internet to download the software. Check your price-plan to see what you pay per MB of data usage.
How do I set the Java app permissions?
To stop the annoying messages popping up asking your permission to do things. Follow the instructions below for your specific phone model.
Sony Ericsson phones:
Go to either Applications or Games (depending on where you installed Sound Around You J2ME). Highlight Sound Around You J2ME, but instead of opening it, press More->Permissions.
Select Read User Data and set the access permissions to Never Ask/Always allowed*.
Select Write User Data and set the access permissions to Never Ask/Always allowed*.
Select Multimedia and set the access permissions to Never Ask/Always allowed*.
Nokia Series 60 phones:
Go to Tools > Manager > Sound Around You J2ME > Options > Suite settings
Select Read User Data and set the access permissions to Never Ask*.
Select Write User Data and set the access permissions to Never Ask*.
Select Multimedia and set the access permissions to Never Ask.
Nokia Series 40 phones:
Go to Sound Around You J2ME ->Options->Application access->Phone access
Select Read User Data and set the access permissions to Never Ask*.
Select Add and edit data and set the access permissions to Never Ask*.
Select Multimedia and set the access permissions to Never Ask*.
* If you don’t have the option to set these to Never Ask, then you most likely installed the Sound Around You J2ME as an unsigned application (using the Sound Around You J2ME jar file directly), or you don’t have the Thawte root certificate on your phone.
The link below is our press release and a small flyer about the project. When clicked they will open in a new tab or window.
The project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) ref EP/E06552X/1 .
For press enquiries or to interview the project leader please contact Charlie Mydlarz at Salford University on:
cmydlarz@soundaroundyou.com
For any information on the project from the project team please contact::
info@soundaroundyou.com
Some press to date
Is anyone out there listening (The Times - John Naish)
Researchers seek UK ’soundscapes’ (BBC Online)
Sound map of Britain to be built up (Telegraph - Richard Alleyne)
