Noise Catcher app for iPhone and iPad

Offering humane and practical functions and is in accordance with the noise impact specified by EPA and the occupational regulations specified by Department of Labor, Noise Catcher helps people better understand what kind of environment they are exposed to, how to judge the noise level and what appropriate actions to take in order to protect hearing.

In average, people are more relaxed and calm under noise level below 50 dB. They will be more focused and are more pleasant (when we communicate with each other, the noise level is around 50 dB to 60 dB). When noise level reaches 70 dB, people start to lose focus, and are more anxious and nervous. If they are constantly exposed to noise level above 85 dB with no protective measures, hearing can be severely damaged.

Special features:
Understand current noise level by adorable Persimmon Doll’s expressions and gestures and captions.
Show current dB and average dB of the surroundings for better reference.
Words and colors help users to better understand status of their current environment.
Provide professional frequency spectrogram for audio analysis.
Separate noise level from 40 dB to 95 dB into 5 categories and give suggestions on how to protect hearing under each category.
Provide recording, play and Google Map functions. Can record your surroundings and send emails to EPA.
Speed-dial EPA report hotline to report noise pollution.

Passive System Alliance (PSA) Charitable Foundations have been caring for the hearing impaired children since founded. Statistics shows that there are 3 out of a thousand infants who are born with hearing loss worldwide. In Taiwan, there are estimated 300 infants with severe hearing loss, while 95% of them can still regain hearing and speaking abilities with stimulus listening equipment and enough training. Therefore, hopefully through hearing aid and equipment donation and with professional and continuous training, every hearing impaired child can listen clearly again.

In 2012, “Reduce Noise, Provide Silence” program has become PSA’s new focus. In order for everyone in the society to really understand the importance of noise pollution, PSA combined old social issue with new technology, integrated the concept of noise control with mobile application “Noise Catcher”. With Jen-Fang Yu’s help, professor from Chung Gung University Department of Otolaryngology, Noise Catcher can analyze the recorded sound and present the result on mobile app. Users can become more aware of their surroundings and how noise can affect them, and how to take appropriate measures to protect hearing.

Appendix: Sound Pressure Level & Permitted Exposure Time
Sound Pressure Level (hr) / A – Weighted Sound Level (dBA)
8hr/90 dBA
6hr/92 dBA
4hr/95 dBA
3hr/97 dBA
2hr/100 dBA
1hr/105 dBA
0.5hr/110 dBA
0.25hr/115 dBA