Soft dB SmartSMS brochure User Manual
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Greater confidentiality
Today, it is easier and more economical to use sound
masking than conventional soundproofing methods
in order to obtain greater speech privacy in office
spaces. That is why a system such as SmartSMS has
proven to be an effective, uncomplicated solution
for increasing confidentiality in all types of work
environments, and ensuring better protection of
your private information.
Productivity gains
Sound masking makes undesirable conversations
and other noise distractions less audible. The result:
Employees are less distracted, they are able to
concentrate better, and their productivity rises
measurably!
Increased productivity and confidentiality
with the SmartSMS sound masking system
Today, more than 80% of businesses have open-plan offices, and the occupancy density is
constantly rising. Open-plan offices are increasingly seen as a strategy to provide common areas
for work teams, and to encourage the exchange of information and sharing of knowledge.
However, such close quarters inevitably entail noise, and this greatly detracts from concentration
and productivity. The use of sound masking systems has become essential to ensure an adequate
level of acoustic comfort that facilitates mental concentration. This is why professionals are
increasingly integrating such systems into their office designs.
How does sound
masking work?
In office spaces, the background noise
level is generally low. Hence, people
unintentionally overhear conversations
– a difficult situation for all concerned.
To address this problem, sound mask-
ing systems emit a soft, inconspicuous
background sound with the use of a
loudspeaker system. The ambient
sound level becomes more uniform
and otherwise noisy distractions are
muffled by the sound masking.
* The principle of sound masking is not to eliminate sounds like anti-noise, but to make them less perceptible.
Noise distractions affect
work quality:
• Unintentionally overheard conversations
can lead to a 10% drop in productivity and
an estimated 12% rise in the risk of errors
(Heriot-Watt University).
• The lack of speech privacy in open-plan offices
can generate a 40% loss of productivity and
increase data-handling errors by 27% (Data
Entry Management Association).
• It takes about 15 minutes to return to a state
of concentration after an interruption (Tom
Demarco and Timothy Lister,
Peopleware:
Productive Projects and Teams).
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Sound level variations in a typical office
Time (sec)
Sound Level (dBA)
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Noise
Masking
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