[Quietcars] Seeking Volunteers for Quiet Car Study in Cambridge Mass.

[David Andrews]

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>Seeking Volunteers for Quiet Car Study
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Sigman, Brian
>To: 'erival at sbcglobal.net'
>Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 9:23 AM
>Subject: FW: Seeking Volunteers for Quiet Car Study
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>Thought you would be interested in this.
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>From: SMT [mailto:stephenthal at sbcglobal.net]
>Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 9:09 PM
>To: Sigman, Brian
>Subject: FW: Seeking Volunteers for Quiet Car Study
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>From: Carroll Center [mailto:dina.rosenbaum at carroll.org]
>Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 2:53 PM
>To: stephenthal at sbcglobal.net
>Subject: Seeking Volunteers for Quiet Car Study
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>                   Seeking Volunteers for a 
> Study on Detectability of Vehicles Sounds
>                   Please pass along:
>
>                   Recent studies indicate that 
> hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are difficult 
> to hear and detect while operating in electric 
> mode and low speeds. The National Highway 
> Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has asked 
> researchers at the U.S. DOT's Volpe National 
> Transportation System Center (Volpe Center) in 
> Cambridge to develop specification requirements 
> for synthetic vehicle sounds to be employed as 
> countermeasures in electric or hybrid-electric 
> vehicles while operating in electric mode below 20 mph.
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>                   The Volpe Center team 
> contacted me to assist them in finding 
> qualified volunteers to participate in their 
> study which will measure how quickly and 
> accurately people can identify vehicle sounds. 
> The Volpe Center has various vehicles and 
> alternative sound systems for use in this 
> study. They are looking for approximately 40 
> volunteers (male and female and age 18 or 
> older) to listen to vehicles and indicate if, 
> and when, they hear a vehicle in various 
> operating conditions. Volunteers should be 
> legally blind, travel by themselves on a 
> regular basis, and have good hearing in both 
> ears. An automated, audiometric screening test 
> -- lasting about 5 minutes -- will be provided for each participant.
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>                   There will be three sessions 
> to choose from: Saturday July 31, August 7 or 
> August 14. Sunday will be reserved as an 
> alternative in case of inclement weather. 
> During the study, participants will be seated 
> in a single line along a sidewalk. Each 
> participant will be provided with a push button 
> (similar to a "nurse call" button) to press at 
> the instant the subject detects and recognizes 
> the sound of a target vehicle. The session will 
> last about two hours and will include testing 
> time, time for greeting and screening, 
> instructions, practice, breaks, and debriefing. 
> A Volpe Center staff member will escort each 
> participant to their seat. This person will 
> occupy the adjacent seat and serve as a subject 
> in the study. Alternatively, a companion could 
> participate in the study and serve as a guide. 
> All participants will be asked to wear a 
> blindfold during the trials and to complete a 
> hearing screening test. The study will be 
> conducted on a parking lot located on the Volpe 
> Center campus near the rear entrance with a 
> street address for ride drop-offs at 44 Potter 
> Street, Cambridge (enter from Third Street, 
> near Kendall Square). For those that need 
> transportation, buses or taxis will depart from 
> the Carroll Center and the Perkins School at 
> 1:00 PM for a 2:00 PM start of the study. 
> Participants will be returned to Carroll or 
> Perkins by 5 PM. Each participant will receive 
> a $100 gift card upon completion of the test.
>
>                   Bottled water, restroom 
> facilities and water bowls for service animals 
> will be available immediately adjacent to the 
> participant seating area, which is shaded from the sun.
>
>                   To participate in study or 
> for more information, contact Catherine Guthy 
> at the Volpe Center, 617-494-3089. For 
> information about the research program please 
> contact Dr. Lisandra Garay-Vega, 202-366-0413.
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>             ©2010 Carroll Center for the Blind 
> | 770 Centre Street Newton, MA 02458
>

                         David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
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