The World Health Organisation recently announced that noise pollution is second only to air pollution in terms of the size of the European environmental health impact. Around one in three people are negatively affected. Urban areas, in particular, are affected. The population density means that even the most innocuous sounds, like a car door slamming, can build up to a cacophony with damaging effects on health.
The impact of noise pollution on health
Despite being one of the most underreported forms of pollution, noise still significantly impacts people’s health and well-being. An estimated 100 million people in Europe are exposed to harmful levels of noise, which can raise blood pressure and increase blood viscosity. As a result, 48,000 new cases of ischaemic heart disease are diagnosed yearly, leading to 12,000 premature deaths.
On a less extreme level, noise pollution can cause high levels of annoyance, with 22 million people suffering from ‘chronic annoyance’. This may sound trivial, but the annoyance caused by noise pollution can result in increased production of cortisol — a.k.a. the stress hormone — which can be very detrimental to long-term health.
Noise pollution in urban areas and offices
During the pandemic, many people got used to a quieter environment, with noise levels in cities like London decreasing by up to 60%. As cities have opened up, the issue of noise pollution has become more apparent. In turn, governments have begun to explore options to reduce the impact of noise pollution.
For example, Barcelona has implemented sound monitors across the city. ‘Acoustically stressed’ areas could face restrictions on outdoor dining and alcohol sale times. Amsterdam’s major hub airport will reduce its capacity by 20% to combat noise levels. On the other hand, major urban hubs like London haven’t released a new noise pollution strategy since 2004.
Nevertheless, since the return to the office, whether full-time or hybrid, the negative effects of urban noise pollution have continued to seep into office environments. Employees struggle to hear on calls due to building works, transport, or even their colleagues sitting next to them. As a result, many industries are desperately looking for a solution to protect their employees from noise pollution while enabling them to work productively.
The importance of clarity on virtual calls
The realisations brought by the pandemic have triggered a long-term trend; it’s undeniable that virtual calls are here to stay. This is one area in which noise pollution is most acutely felt, with background noise disrupting calls and impacting people’s ability to understand one another. Virtual calls act as the centrepiece of the modern workplace. They have facilitated the boom in hybrid and remote working models and play an important role in internal and external business meetings.
Today, 79% of first-round interviews are conducted virtually. Even worker layoffs, which can be controversial, are being held via video calls on an increasing basis. Noise pollution risks derailing these crucial moments when call participants need to listen most actively. With 61% of office workers complaining about being interrupted by background noise five to ten times a day, office noise pollution is clearly a major issue that must be addressed.
Why we need to invest in audio technology
It’s clear that virtual meetings will continue to play a central role in modern working practices. Great strides have been made in the video technology space, with participants able to blur out or even change the background of their calls. However, the same level of investment and widespread adoption hasn’t happened yet in the audio space.
From muting/unmuting your microphone to being misheard, background noise can make virtual meetings a stressful — and counter-productive — experience. Think about a child screaming during a professional call and how this can negate the experience entirely. Not only does this cause embarrassment for the parent, but frustration for the customer.
So how do we protect virtual meetings from noise pollution? Technological solutions like voice isolation could be the answer. Innovative, bi-directional, AI-based software can cut out background noise – such as a dog barking or loud drilling – and highlight only the speaker’s voice. Furthermore, because it only requires one user for both sides to benefit, it’s particularly beneficial in the CX sector.
Simple, flexible SaaS solutions can reduce stress caused by background noise on virtual meetings and allow users to focus on what’s important: the conversation. By removing background noise and increasing clarity, virtual calls can stop being annoying and start being productive.
IRIS Clarity is an AI-powered software solution that removes distracting background noise from your VoIP and customer calls. Real-time and bi-directional, IRIS Clarity allows participants on both sides of a call to immediately enjoy clearer sound, no matter where they are. IRIS Clarity improves focus, engagement, and wellbeing, bringing control to otherwise uncontrollable environments.
