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Summer 2015

New Book

A new book by Sound Arts and Industries Director Jacob Smith was recently published by the University of California Press. The book, entitled, Eco-Sonic Media, examines the history of sound media technologies through an ecological lens.

New Virtual Sound Room

A state-of-the-art virtual sound room opened at the Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning at Northwestern University. The “Audio Environment Simulation Room” is designed to test and modify hearing devices by representing any number of sound environments. The room uses studio simulations to mimic real-world scenarios, from a quiet conversation to an enormous music hall. The Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning is part of the School of Communication.

Nina Kraus on NPR

In July, Nina Kraus was the focus of an interview on National Public Radio concerning her work on developing a new literacy test for children. This breakthrough 30-minute test can predict a child’s literacy skill long before they’re old enough to begin reading. Kraus is Hugh Knowles Professor of Communication Sciences and Neurobiology & Physiology at Northwestern, and is also the director of the Auditory Neuroscience Lab.

Backstory Interview

In July, Sound Arts and Industries Director Jacob Smith participated in an interview for the podcast BackStory. The segment, produced by Bruce Wallace, takes a look at the fascinating popularity of “laughing records” during the early years of the phonograph industry, in particular the “The OKeh Laughing Record.”