THE SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS OF ACOUSTICS - H. H. Arnold ...

References 11characterization of materials, better surveillance methodologies, and improvedmanufacturing techniques.And what does the future hold in acoustics? The continuing miniaturization ofelectronic circuitry is now resulting in digitized hearing aids that can circumventthe “cocktail party effect” (the tendency of background noise to make it difficultfor the sensorneurally impaired listeners to focus on a conversation). Even newerdiagnostic and therapeutic processes entailing acoustical signals are being developedand tested at major medical centers. More sensitive and versatile transducersthat can withstand harsher environments lead to new acoustical devices such assonic viscometers, undersea probes, and portable voice-recognition devices. Andif we can gain a greater understanding of how cetaceans make use of their naturalsonars to assess the submarine environment and perhaps to communicate witheach other, we could be well on the way to constructing far more sophisticatedmegachannel acoustical analyzers. The generation of acoustical waves in the gigahertzrange can rival or exceed the optical microscope for resolution with greaterpenetrating power. The repertoire of what is to come should truly constitute anamazing cornucopia of beneficence to humanity.ReferencesBeranek, Leo J. 1995. Harvey Fletcher: Friend and scientific critic, Journal of the AcousticalSociety of America 97(5):3357.Beyer, Robert T. 1995. Acoustic, acoustics. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America98(1): 33–34.Beyer, Robert T. 1999. Sounds of Our Times. New York: Springer-Verlag. [A fascinatinghistory of acoustics over the past 200 years, with many allusions to even earlier history.This text picks up where Frederick Vinton Hunt left off in his unfinished, meticulouslyresearched work which was published posthumously (seen below).]Blake, William K. 1964. Aero-hydroacoustics for Ships, 2 Vols. Bethesda, MD: DavidTaylor Basin publication DTNSRDC-84/010, June 1964.Bobber, Robert J. 1970. Underwater Electroacoustic Measurements. Washington, DC:Naval Research Laboratory.Chladni, E. F. F. 1802. Die Acustik. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Hartel.Clay, Clarence S. and Medwin, Herman. 1977. Acoustical Oceanography: Principles andApplications. New York: John Wiley & Sons.Fletcher, Steven Harvey. 1995. Harvey Fletcher: A son’s reflections. Journal of the AcousticalSociety of America 97(5 Pt. 2): 3356–3357.Galileo, Galilei. 1638 (translation published in 1939). Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences,Translated by Crew, H. and De Salvio, A. Evanston, IL: Northwestern UniversityPress.Hanish, Sam. 1981. A Treatise on Acoustic Radiation. Washington, DC: Naval ResearchLaboratory.Harris, Cyril M. 1995. Harvey Fletcher: Some personal recollections. Journal of the AcousticalSociety of America 97(5 Pt. 2): 3357.Helmholtz, Hermann F. L. von. 1877. Lehre con den Tonempfindungen. Braunschweig,Wiesbaden: Vieweg.