Haptic sound: Translating natural acoustic phenomena of falling water into a tangible experience for the deaf

Let us imagine a world without sound! What sensations do we miss? The pitter-patter of the rain, the wind as it picks up speed, the chirping of the birds…. It is endless. Just as with the natural world, the designed world is very much dependent on sound. This study will explore sound through the ears of the deaf utilizing the sense of touch through vibrations in an outdoor environment. The challenges for deaf people in urban spaces extend beyond communication barriers. Background noise, vehicular noise, and mechanical noise are hindrances to a hearing person but are of absolute importance to hear because we then understand the dangers we must avoid. The deaf are putting their safety at risk in urban spaces. Various studies have explored landscape spaces for the deaf through the important and compensatory sense of vision, by focusing on certain principles for space and landscape navigation like proximity, color balance, and sensory reach. However, in the anatomy of the ear sound and vibration go hand in hand more than vision or taste with sound. In touch, the vibrotactile sense plays an essential role. Vibro refers to vibration and tactile is a texture felt when our fingers move across a surface. Based on the understanding that surface materials can react to sound by vibration, the deaf can read landscapes through the frequencies of the sound waves passed to their body from materials. This research revolves around enhancing this part of sensation by giving prominence to the physicality of sound. It aims to explore two materials, steel and polycarbonate, to create an immersive experience of a space utilizing the acoustic principles for excellent vibration through indexical means. Research methods for this thesis will include: 1. Case studies: Silk Tree Urban Park, Stern Grove Park in San Francisco, and Paley Park in New York. 2. A site study: The chosen site is the Paley Park. Through this study, I intend to reconstruct the park to add another layer that enhances the vibrotactile sense. 3. I would use digital and virtual software, such as Rhino plugin Pachyderm and FEA (Finite Elemental Analysis), to test how well materials in the proposed landscape react to sound. The primary focus is on the sound of falling water. Through this thesis, I am attempting to disseminate information and research on the importance of surface materials in landscape design that enhances the experience of sound to the deaf in the landscape.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.L.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Landscape Architecture

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Onkar, Rachitha

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hays, David Lyle
• Lemon, Kelley Denise
• Clark, John Stewart

• Haptic
• Sound
• Water
• Deaf
• Hard Of Hearing
• Vibrotactile
• Natural Frequency
• Resonance.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Rachitha Onkar

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127415

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127415