[Quietcars] Quieter cars pose yet another question.

[michael townsend]

Per the recent discussion that ensued after the article was  published on
list from The Washington Post, I have a comment and a question.  

I was writing to a person who has just received a cochlear implant, and I
shared many of the articles from this list and my thoughts with him about
hybrid vehicles.  He is a dog handler from TSE, and has had his dog for nine
years.  He stated that many people who are losing their hearing first tend
to lose it in the higher frequency ranges first.  He's been given a  new
lease on life with cochlear implants, and he's hearing things better now
than he has in years, but it's taken some getting used to in working with
the implants, but he's adjusting well.  

He stated that the noise of the jet engine that was proposed by the Japanese
designers may be a bad idea, and that high pitched frequencies in general
for persons who are hard of hearing is an issue that may create more
difficulties than answers.  

As Maryellen has stated, totally deaf people have to learn to use their eyes
to scan the areas in which they drive or walk and that process alerts them
to what we who have hearing may be aware of.  Would a series of lights then
be a solution for those who are totally deaf that might flash be a solution?
Just curious.  I really don't like that jet engine whine either as a
solution.  The noise emitted should be that of an exhaust sound that is
unique or a very unique chime, buzzer or click that would not be confused
with audible traffic signals, other car or vehicle horns or environmental
sounds.  If anyone knows of a way to get in touch with some of these people
who are conducting such studies, please publish the contact either on list
or privately as I might like to volunteer. If there are any newsletters to
which one might subscribe that are "readabl3e{" rather than a spouting of
technical jargon, that might work for me as well.  

Thanks.

Mike T in NJ



"I am accustomed to hearing malicious falsehoods about myself...but I think
I have
a right to resent, to object to, libelous statements about my dog."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
Mike Townsend and Seeing Eye dog Brent
Dunellen, New Jersey  08812
emails:  mrtownsend at optonline.net; 
michael.townsend54 at gmail.com
Home Phone:  732  200-5643
Cellular:  732  718-9480