Since the start of the 21st century, there have been significant improvements in visual technology. But, much like how our other senses help us when we can’t see, scientists are finding ways to use non-visual methods, particularly sound, to tackle various problems. Sound-based technologies are becoming more advanced and widespread, aiding in issues like poaching, natural disasters, and even crime. Soon, impressive sound-based tech might be commonplace. Let’s explore ten problems that are being solved using sound.
10. Preventing Poaching
Imagine over 900 square miles of jungle; it sounds vast, but it’s a tiny part of South America’s Atlantic Forest, one of the last safe havens for jaguars. With poaching and deforestation, only about 300 jaguars remain in the forest. To protect them, a Brazilian conservation project tested tech that uses audio data to predict where poachers might strike.
Recorders were strategically placed high in the trees to capture gunshots up to 1.2 miles away. After seven months, the data created a map that predicted poacher activity with 82% accuracy. This allows park rangers to adjust their patrols, ensuring they cover the most vulnerable areas.
9. Solving Gun Crime
The U.S. company SoundThinking utilizes gunshot-detecting tech to combat gun crime in urban areas. Their system, ShotSpotter, uses a network of acoustic sensors to detect gunshots. By measuring the time it takes for the sound to reach different sensors, it pinpoints the gunshot location.
This information is sent to emergency services almost instantly, helping them respond quickly and prevent further crimes. The company claims it can direct authorities to within 82 feet of the shot, increasing the chances of finding evidence. However, ShotSpotter’s effectiveness and potential bias have been subjects of debate, despite its use in 150 American cities.
8. Mapping Caves
In 2011, Acentech, a Massachusetts-based firm, developed a system to map caves using gunshot echoes. The process required firing a gun into the cave four or five times. Microphones at the entrance captured the returning sounds, and the data was then displayed on a laptop.
The method operates on the same principle as bats’ echolocation. The output provides graphs and written descriptions of the cave’s interior, offering a simple yet effective way to understand what lies within.
7. Room Mapping and Design
Echolocation doesn’t always require loud noises. In 2013, researchers in Switzerland created a system that maps rooms accurately using just a finger snap and four microphones. The algorithm considers the distance between the microphones and the sound’s reflections off the walls.
Demonstrated in Lausanne Cathedral, the system is designed to aid in constructing new buildings like concert halls by allowing architects to customize a room’s acoustics.
6. Predicting Tsunamis and Earthquakes
Similar to how echolocation maps caves, sound is used underwater to map faults in the earth’s plates. Knowing where these faults lie can help save lives. For instance, mapping the Palos Verdes Fault Zone in California can help scientists understand the risk of tsunamis to coastal communities.
Seismic reflection, using seismic waves from earthquakes or explosions, profiles the layers beneath the seafloor. By understanding the frequency of these waves, scientists gain insight into potential hazards. Even though they aren’t technically sound waves, some seismic waves behave like sound when moving through the air.
5. Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions
Sound-based warning systems have been protecting people from volcanic eruptions for over a decade. A system developed by geophysicist Maurizio Ripepe predicted 57 out of 59 eruptions at Mount Etna between 2010 and 2018.
The system detects infrasound waves, which are vibrations too low for humans to hear. These waves are produced when gases move inside a volcano’s chambers. By detecting infrasound, authorities can be alerted to imminent eruptions, allowing them to take timely action.
4. Monitoring Sunspots and Solar Flares
Sound helps predict some of the solar system’s hottest events. Sunspots, caused by changes in the Sun’s magnetic field, can lead to solar storms and flares. These flares can disrupt GPS and communications on Earth, so predicting them is crucial.
Telescopes worldwide use “helioseismology,” listening for changes in sound waves from inside the Sun. Strong magnetic fields alter these waves, allowing scientists to predict sunspots before they’re visible. This early warning system helps mitigate the potential impacts on Earth.
3. Predicting Machine Failure
Modern factories are often unmanned and filled with complex machinery. To prevent breakdowns, AI systems are being developed to listen to these machines. Sensors record their sounds, and machine learning algorithms learn to recognize normal and pre-failure sounds.
This technology can even predict sounds of failures that have never occurred before, helping factories avoid costly interruptions. This proactive approach ensures smoother operations and reduces downtime.
2. Diagnosing Illnesses
A person’s voice contains a lot of revealing data. Beyond emotions, illnesses like depression, Parkinson’s, and cancer can alter speech patterns. AI projects, funded with over $100 million, aim to detect these changes to improve diagnoses.
For example, Parkinson’s disease has been detected with up to 98.6% accuracy by analyzing the “aaah” sound. Applications like virtual assistants on phones could soon detect concerning changes in voices, leading to quicker medical interventions.
1. Predicting the Stock Market
People often reveal their true feelings through their speech, even in professional settings. Researchers in Germany have used this to predict companies’ future earnings by analyzing vocal cues. Modern software can analyze sound structure—frequency, amplitude, etc.—to detect subtle warnings in presentations.
When tested on real analyst and manager calls, the system’s predictions beat the market by almost 9%. This suggests that vocal analysis could be a valuable tool for investors and financial analysts.
From protecting endangered species to predicting financial markets, sound technology is proving to be an innovative and effective tool. As technology advances, we can expect even more creative uses of acoustics to solve complex problems.
What do you think about these innovative uses of sound? Leave a comment below!
