Colours control noise

Press, 21 January 1983, Page 7

Colours control noise

NZPA Tallahassee, Florida A light that changes from green to red as noise levels rise is helping keep down lunchtime rowdiness at Astoria Park elementary school.' The noise-sensitive traffic light, developed by an education professor, Darrel Bestow, of the University of South Florida, has made quite a difference in student

behaviour, said the principal. Edna Owens. The devices, called soundeks. are popular with principals and teachers but some parents have not been so enthusiastic. “It seems so cold,” said Sue Deluca, who has children at Astoria Park. “It’s supposed to be the children's relaxation time. They seem

to be nervous when they are eating.” The device sits at the back of Astoria Park's cafeteriaauditorium. As„the decibel level rises, the traffic signal blinks from green to yellow or red and a loud electronic beeper goes off to warn students they are near or beyond the allowable noise level.

Lunchroom monitors give tickets to students who are particularly noisy. If students keep noise down to the green level, they are rewarded with special privileges, but students who have had tickets cannot participate. About 60 of the devices were used in schools across the country, mainly in Florida, Professor Bostow said.