SEM - Sound Exposure Meter

Last Updated : September 30, 2009

Project Goal : The ultimate goal of the SEM project is to produce a device that will alert the user when there is a potential risk for his or her hearing to be damaged. The device should be accurate, yet small. In addition, the average adult must be able to use and interpret the device while still gaining informative feedback.

Introduction : The idea of the sound exposure meter (SEM) is to alert the user whenever any condition exists in which he or she is being exposed to a harmful sound pressure level, namely 85dBA. Apart from the instantaneous alert just mentioned, there are also the average noise level alert (sound level above 90dBA on a one minute interval) and impulse noise alert (three impulse noises that greater than 114 dB in a second). The special features include the three-color LED indication and vibration alert. This device should be portable enough to be worn on the wrist, hung from the neck, or clipped to a belt like a pager. This device may also be referred to as a dosimeter.

Semester Objective : End of semester version contains a working product for all three phases. At the start, the tasks will be divided among the three phases to hopefully increase feasibly and cut down on expense for the project. Specifically, all testing that will be performed for this semester should allow us to reach solid conclusions regarding battery usage, consistency, and accuracy.

Project Status : Preamp Design

Project Start Date : Spring 2009

Project Delivery Date : Spring 2010

EZ-AID (Hearing Aid Kit)

Last Updated : Oct 19 , 2009

Project Goal : The goal for EZ-AID is to provide clients with poor dexterity a easy-to-use, durable hearing care kit which is cost effective while providing an "easy aid" solution to their everyday hearing-aid use.

Introduction : There are many hearing aid cleaning kits currently in the market however none are made for people with poor dexterity. The idea of EZ-AID was based on battery changing of the hearing aid by making a design similar to "PEZ-Dispenser" for storing batteries and changing batteries without any difficulities. This will be called the "PEZ-BAT". Also EZ-AID's main focus was on the size and grip of the tools for the users. There will also be a container for the tools which will look nice and modern for the users to carry it around.

Semester Objective : End of semester objective is for the team to have a real prototype of the container for the tools.

Project Status : Conceptual Design; More ideas for final prototype.

Project Start Date : Fall 2009

Project Delivery Date : Fall 2010

Acoustical Barriers

Last Updated : September 30, 2009

Project Goal : Acoustical Barriers will entail designing and building a way for the Morton Community Center to help create temporary meeting areas in their preschool that will isolate the users visually from the rest of the classroom and aid in acoustical isolation.

Introduction : The Morton Community Center is the community partner for the Acoustic Barriers project.  Working with Hope Gulker and the project partner, Dr. Robert Novak, the Acoustic Barriers project exists to benefit the mission of the Morton Community Center with respect to their preschool speech testing efforts. The benefactors of the project include the instructors and audiology students who perform the testing, and the preschool students on whom the testing is performed. The Morton Community Center will receive the deliverables from the project.

Semester Objective : Acoustical Testing, Deliver Project to Morton Center.

Project Status : The design has been completed. The framing of the three panels is built, primed, and painted.

Project Start Date : Spring 2009

Project Delivery Date : Fall 2009