Background and Feedback Review

After another week of iteration, I realised some thinking errors in the problem definition and intervention design. In particular, in problem refining and solution design, I failed to fully grasp the essence and orientation of the core issue, which resulted in an overly broad orientation. Therefore, in this iteration, I revisited how the problem was posed and the target group and fundamentally refined it.

Refactoring 1: Go back to the core of the question: 

• How can we help noise-sensitive people prevent, avoid, and control possible noise problems?

Refactoring 2: Building Noise Bridges:

• How to help users understand and visualise what constitutes noise, especially when noise cannot be perceived directly?

Intervention: 

• Time-frequency domain analysis – based on big data to analyse the spectral characteristics of noise and provide real-time information on the composition, changes and sources of noise. Users can get timed alerts to keep abreast of the impact of noise on their lives.

Application Scenario:

• Noise monitoring and management: To remind residents promptly of changes in noise and help them make adjustments accordingly.
• Urban and residential planning: Use noise visualisation to optimise urban planning and improve the quality of the living environment.

Refactoring 3: Noise Control Optimisation:

• How can we help people effectively mitigate the effects of noise without using traditional noise isolation devices (e.g., earplugs, sound walls, etc.)?

Intervention: 

• To mitigate ambient noise, use speakers to play a specific sound that cancels out ambient noise to achieve active noise cancellation. This approach not only provides noise mitigation in a given environment but also reduces reliance on physical space.

Through these ideas, I further defined the core direction of my research:

• Prevention: Identify potential noise problems in advance to help users avoid interference.
• Exploration: Visualisation and time-frequency domain analysis of noise sources to increase noise awareness and understanding.
• Control: Explore innovative solutions for noise control that reduce the reliance on traditional equipment and provide more flexible responses.
• Final question definition: How can we enhance and refine existing noise management strategies to help urban residents cope with noise issues and elevate their awareness of its impacts?

This definition of the question not only keeps the research open but also clarifies the scope of the question and the target group more clearly. As a next step, I will explore how these interventions can be implemented and optimised.