Sound is the vibration of matter at particular frequencies. We are able to hear sound because animals evolved a mechanism to absorb and interpret these vibrations with a mechanical assembly including the tympanic membrane and ossicles made up of the malleus or hammer, incus or anvil, and stapes or stirrup, leading to the cochlea with thousands of small hairs and the auditory nerve. The nerve translates the vibrations to signals that are sent to and interpreted by the brain.
Hearing, like vision is a sense that operates well at distance. Although it is slower and weaker than light in sending information through air, sound travels through a medium to get to the ear. Sound also travels very well through liquids and solids, because it moves through the vibration of matter, and liquids and solids have higher densities than air and other gasses. So, we can hear sound through materials, not just through air. In fact, sound is more efficient through dense materials, and we must be careful not to injure our ears with over-powerful transmissions.
We use hearing to intake information and sounds in order to better understand the world. We can use it in combination with other senses, or we can use it alone, in lieu of vision and others. Sound provides an understanding of the world without a need for light. Not only do we receive sounds from specific sources, but we also take in the sound of the context and conditions. Reverberation tells us the make up and size of spaces, while the milieu of sounds expresses environmental conditions.
Similar to vision, hearing is always active when awake. Because of this, our brain is able to filter out the sense to focus on other signals or tasks. As mentioned above, we are able to use our sense of hearing to understand the size and contents of a space as well as define what entities are nearby, but our ability to listen also allows us to receive spoken language, like written language for vision.
We use hearing wherever we use vision. However, we can also utilize hearing without sight, and it is nearly as efficient as relying on the visual, though full physical definition is more difficult to discern. When used in concert with vision, a very clear understanding is given, only made better by touch, in most instances.
For some, hearing and listening are the greatest skills. Some get lost in music or the sonic landscape, and they can pick out specific characteristics and sounds without trouble. For these people, hearing is everything. For others, they might rely on hearing to understand the world, which can be extremely effective.
What type of sense is Hearing? Classify
How would you compare Hearing to the other senses?
How would you contrast Hearing to the other senses?
In your own words, what is Hearing?
When is the best time to use Hearing? How?
When is the worst time to use Hearing? Which sense is better to use in this case?
Outline the types of Hearing.
- General Strategy for Hearing
- Applying
- How would you use Hearing?
- What approaches would you use for Hearing?
- What conditions or equipment would you need to show Hearing?
- Analyzing
- What are the parts of Hearing?
- Why do you think using Hearing is a strong solution for design?
- Can you classify the types of Hearing?
- Can you classify the methods of Hearing?
- What ideas justify Hearing for design?
- Creating
- What changes would you make to use Hearing?
- How would you improve Hearing in design?
- What would happen if a design was only Hearing?
- What would happen if a design did not incorporate Hearing?
- What are alternative uses for Hearing?
- Can you invent other ways to use Hearing?
- How would you adapt Hearing to create a different design for an existing structure?
- How would you design with Hearing?
- How would you test Hearing?
- Can you formulate a theory for Hearing?
- Evaluating
- Back up each area above (A,B,&C).
- Applying