Death by beep? Bad sound design costs lives (and how to fix it) | Michael Schutz

Death by beep? Bad sound design costs lives (and how to fix it) | Michael Schutz | TEDxMcMasterU

Рет қаралды 880,119

Күн бұрын

Doctors and nurses rely on an array of medical devices. Unfortunately, the poorly designed "beeps" in these machines are so annoying they lead to confusion, delay patient recovery, and even contribute to deaths. Despite high interest in improving these alarms, surprisingly little attention has been given to the sounds themselves. For the next generation of machines, why not look to sounds used all the world over…the sounds used in music? Known for his innovative blend of performance, teaching and research, Dr. Michael Schutz is currently Associate Professor of Music Cognition/Percussion at McMaster University, where he is currently University Scholar in recognition of his work connecting music performance and music perception. He is the founding director of the MAPLE Lab and a core member of the McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 360

@camerongdowd Жыл бұрын

As someone who lost their father because of one of those critical misses, this talk just hits differently. Anything we can do to help change that number needs to be done.

@nestermaratos1070 Жыл бұрын

It's a shame that such a simple solution like incorporating musical sounds has been overlooked for so long.

@diywithderby6069 Жыл бұрын

I can only imagine the positive impact it would have on both patients and medical staff. 😊

@zelmacastricone1228 Жыл бұрын

The use of musical sounds in medical devices could revolutionize the industry. It could make a real difference in patient care.

@TRIGO_ALLINE Жыл бұрын

This talk is a powerful reminder that healthcare providers have a huge responsibility to ensure that they are doing everything they can to prevent critical misses.

@darrellrussell7259 Жыл бұрын

It's encouraging to see people speaking out about this issue and advocating for change, because every step we take towards reducing critical misses could make a life-saving difference.

@selitudenow Жыл бұрын

FINALLY SOME ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT! We have known that our brains know how to be selective for so long - WHY WOULD WE CHOOSE SUCH ANNOYING SOUNDS FOR MACHINES THAT ARE MEANT TO SAVE LIVES???

@darrellrussell7259 Жыл бұрын

I never really thought about it but now that you have pointed it out it makes a lot of sense

@kenoxfps8598 Жыл бұрын

we need more attention towards this

@kenanxo7384 Жыл бұрын

spread the word out!

@Schutz.percussion Жыл бұрын

@@kenanxo7384 Yes please do share this talk to help spread the word! There's really no benefit to these awful sounds - and quite a lot of detriment

@Schutz.percussion Жыл бұрын

@Rissa Krows PaggW3lly has a pretty decent overview of how it's made. I think the reason it's so annoying is that such a pristine constant amount of energy is rather unnatural and removes so many of the properties of sound our brain's use to understand events producing sound. So it results in this eery/annoying quality. Unfortunately these sounds are "easy" to produce and since people don't think much about sound annoyance it's just been that way for many decades

@TheAffinityAdvocate 3 ай бұрын

not all heroes wear capes. Some wield guitars and tackle annoying alarms. Keep doing your thing, man. Hospitals need more folks like you.

@kyleighmcdowell 6 ай бұрын

As a nurse, I've dealt with these alarms daily. The struggle is real and his solution is brilliant.

@dylantaylor6200 6 ай бұрын

must drive you crazy

@myadanco 2 жыл бұрын

This is one of the talks that make you wonder why this hasn’t been addressed before- especially when it is obvious that there are better ways to do it already available.

@Schutz.percussion 2 жыл бұрын

I agree thanks for watching :) I think part of the problem is that these machines are designed by engineers focused on their mechanics and the sounds are an afterthought. But by raising awareness of this issue and what can be done I'm hoping we can improve this soon!

@fenglov9111 Жыл бұрын

It's cool to see someone talk about the value of sound design. I've always had a pet theory that sound design is one of the main reasons Star Wars took off the way it did as a franchise.

@dakjussord821 Жыл бұрын

good send Feng, thanks

@jamesbowie4540 Жыл бұрын

I wonder if you hear a flat line right before you pass away?

@dylantaylor6200 Жыл бұрын

@@jamesbowie4540 wtf!!!

@samanthakatzalay 4 ай бұрын

His insights into the outdated hospital alarm noises are pretty eye-opening! It's refreshing to see someone addressing such a critical yet overlooked aspect of healthcare.

@northcosca Ай бұрын

Love that he's using his musical background to bring a fresh perspective to medical devices. It's a brilliant exmaple of why we should draw on multiple sources if we want innovative design.

@joycewright2788 2 жыл бұрын

8:05- I gave an out loud ‘WOW’ to this!

@isabelledanska 11 ай бұрын

The fact that alarms have consistently made it to the top 10 health technology hazards list is a cause for concern. It's encouraging to know that there are dedicated individuals like Mike working on solutions.

@milapercava Жыл бұрын

The connection between sound design and patient safety is alarming. It's unsettling to think that something as simple as annoying alarms could lead to critical misses and even patient deaths. This issue deserves attention and improvement

@davinachilds 6 ай бұрын

I love that he's bringing his passion for sound into healthcare! This kind of thinking is so valuable.

@ryandombster1424 9 ай бұрын

Mike's talk made me think about how small design decisions can have significant consequences. I appreciate his call to support the arts and explore innovative solutions to improve patient safety.

@Techodeflash Ай бұрын

This approach could legit revolutionize how we experience healthcare environments, both as patients and staff. Nice.

@malachijude 10 ай бұрын

I never considered the role of supporting the arts in improving healthcare, but Mike's argument makes sense. Appreciating and participating in music can contribute to a better sounding world

@shureedouglas8682 3 ай бұрын

It's not just about changing sounds; it's about improving the entire auditory interface in healthcare

@---nameless--- Ай бұрын

I think this is a reminder of how important design is, and also how important it is to keep updating as we have the ability to do so!

@zacksuchodolska 11 ай бұрын

I appreciate how Mike acknowledges the limitations of his own expertise and collaborates with medical professionals to ensure that his acoustic ideas align with real-world hospital environments

@jackbenns 11 ай бұрын

I never realized the impact that bad sound designs in medical devices could have on patient safety until now. Mike's explanation really opened my eyes to this critical issue

@jorgeestoban Ай бұрын

As I nurse I can definitely confirm how real of an issue alarm fatigue is. Anything that can make them less of a nuisance and more of a help is a step in the right direction.

@kinsleydanton 8 ай бұрын

It's amazing to think how much our lives can be impacted by something as seemingly simple as the sounds we hear in hospitals...

@thisdidnotfkinghelpatall Жыл бұрын

The connection between music and sound design is intriguing. Leveraging musical knowledge to improve medical alarms is a unique approach. It's inspiring to see how different fields can come together to solve critical problems.

@samacigrist 5 ай бұрын

I love the idea of using music instead of beeps. It would be so much more soothing for doctors and patients.

@nelwashington Ай бұрын

This is an awesome example of how art and science can intersect.

@Sky-Leap 4 ай бұрын

Kudos, Mike! Your proposal to use music and your background as a musician bring a unique touch to healthcare innovation. Embracing creativity in solving these problems is exactly what we need. Keep pushing those boundaries!

@58vette 10 ай бұрын

I love how Mike brings his background as a musician into play to tackle the problem of sound annoyance. Using music as a solution seems like a genius approach to improve auditory interfaces.

@n-san-eye_t Жыл бұрын

Wow I was legit expecting the reason why bad sound design costs lives to be because of how jarring and aggravating they are!! I couldn't imagine being stuck in a hospital bed and hearing those sounds all day.

@ashmillen 2 жыл бұрын

Most designs for practical use are obnoxious. I appreciate Michael and his brilliance so very much.

@ironmercMike Жыл бұрын

I've honestly never thought about the way bad sound design affects my life but now I bet I'll be seeing - or hearing - it everywhere!

@kingbrantley 3 ай бұрын

Yeah this talk just blew my mind... who knew hospital alarms could be such a big deal? Can't wait for that symphony of health to replace the annoying beeps. Rock on!

@Enzo-Sardi 11 ай бұрын

It's heartening to hear that small changes in sound design can lead to significant improvements in public health. Fixing the sounds of medical devices may be a simple solution with far-reaching benefits

@discofevernow Жыл бұрын

He makes a really good point about having to listen to these alarms all day everyday. I wonder if it would ease burnout in medical professionals to not be listening to not have sounds like that going on all the time.

@tshaurich Жыл бұрын

If annoying sounds were a sport, medical alarms would be the world champions. It's like they have an Olympic-level talent for being irritating. But seriously, we need to rethink the design and make them more user-friendly

@milesprimrose5990 2 жыл бұрын

The avenues that the human mind takes as we grow as a society simply amazes me.

@mateoolsert 5 ай бұрын

This definitely resonates with me. My mom was in hospital recently and I remember thinking all those beeps would be so frustrating when you're trying to rest and recover.

@stewynotthedog Жыл бұрын

I work in a hospital and if the general public saw how outdated so much of our processes and machinery was there'd be an uproar

@mymotivationsnow Жыл бұрын

It makes a lot of sense that sometimes those noises would do more harm than good.... but schutz has got the good sounds for us!

@aleidbarend 2 жыл бұрын

This is so true, why has no-one looked at this before now?

@StarPointExodus 3 ай бұрын

Hospitals can be stressful enough without those jarring alarms. The idea to swap them for something soothing is so logical I'm struggling to understand why it hasn't been done already

@SpeckledDude 10 ай бұрын

The comparison between complex musical sounds and the simplicity of medical device sounds is striking. It's clear that there's a lot of room for improvement in the quality of sounds used in healthcare.

@ariadne1428 2 ай бұрын

Totally feeling this. Hospitals need a sound makeover, for real. Your music vibe to fix those alarms is spot on. Let's groove our way to a healthier future!

@arnafieldsteen 6 ай бұрын

I can't say I've ever really thought about the sounds in hospitals - I've always been too occupied thinking about how flawed the entire system is.

@sandynharris Жыл бұрын

by far my favorite ted talk. these are exactly the sort of issues that we should be looking for creative solutions to!

@Schutz.percussion Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind feedback - so glad you enjoyed this!

@TheRubenZepeda 3 ай бұрын

your talk deserves all the claps! Changing hospital sounds? Genius move! Can't wait for a future where alarms are more Mozart than machine.

@Me-lolahernandez 2 ай бұрын

Love it! My mom was a nurse and would come home constantly complaining about headaches because of how noisy it had been

@gabehileski 7 ай бұрын

I really, really like this idea. So much of our tech is outdated - not just in hospitals - and it's about time we did better.

@therealphoebuscommunication 2 жыл бұрын

I have never thought about how sounds impact our response to the world. I for sure knew how irritated I got with beeping and repetitive sounds, but never considered how it impacted through exposure in the workplace

@shimmikang 2 жыл бұрын

Right! This was a bit of an eye opener for me and the things I take for granted about how the world works

@Schutz.percussion 2 жыл бұрын

Totally - I find the beeping annoying in trucks backing up and at supermarket checkout counters. But after hearing so many medical devices use them too I realized there's a lot at stake in addressing this!

@yassacrown 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, those are frightening stats, really. I would have never of realised that these sounds were so detrimental.

@maxinebennier 8 ай бұрын

Okay, Mike's mission to save lives with better sound design is definitely music to my ears! 🎵🎤 I never thought about the annoyance of medical alarms in hospitals before, but it totally makes sense. Cheers to a harmonious future in healthcare!

@farahjuniper9214 2 күн бұрын

The part about doctors turning off alarms because they're annoying is so scary. Imagine being in a situation where a life-saving alarm is ignored because it’s just too irritating. How is this not a bigger issue?

@yemreikiz 2 жыл бұрын

I'm an electronics engineer working on medical devices. I will definitely bring up this issue for our upcoming projects. Thank you.

@vickycristena Жыл бұрын

did they listen to you?

@yemreikiz Жыл бұрын

@@vickycristena we are definitely interested in the results:)

@erenemreaydin Жыл бұрын

@@vickycristena I did :)

@dudley4318 4 ай бұрын

I'm always so amazed by the niche little things people choose to advocate for. It's pretty wonderful.

@SinfulTrust 2 ай бұрын

I agree, I think addressing the annoyance of current alarm sounds would be a wonderful step towards a better work environment as well as health care experience.

@hubert-olszewski 10 ай бұрын

It's interesting to see how the annoyance caused by medical device sounds not only affects doctors but also patients. Lack of sleep and prolonged hospital stays can have serious consequences on recovery

@TheKaboomGirl 25 күн бұрын

He raises some very good points because these are _sick_ people like they should be having a restful time and I don't know how that would happen amongst all of that noise

@adairamacdonald Жыл бұрын

I guess it's like most things - in order to design something good we need to understand what is a bad design. I really hope there are more people like Michael wanting to build towards that good design

@georgewatkiss 8 ай бұрын

Absolutely loved Mike's take on using his musical expertise to revolutionize this field. Who knew that a touch of music could be the antidote to annoying alarms?

@shirleytross Жыл бұрын

The concept of an auditory interface is fascinating. It opens up new possibilities for connecting with technology. It's great to see how sounds can be used to enhance safety and communication, especially in fields like aviation and medicine.

@pennjteller 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for shedding light on this. I had no idea that something as seemingly minor as alarm sounds could have such profound consequences. It's really great to see someone tackling these overlooked issues.

@briannestory9750 7 ай бұрын

Once you've been trained it really is amazing how obvious the difference in good and bad sound design. Nice to see someone bringing it to such an important field.

@avatbadra Жыл бұрын

Bad sound design is everywhere and costs us more than even what this man is talking about

@oscarnotreallyawiener Ай бұрын

The way his passion for sound has led him to this endeavour is really cool! It's made me think how I can apply my creative passions in a way that benefits the community

@morefunallthetime Ай бұрын

Sometimes change is just for the sake of it but other times it can actually have a huge impact. We should be more aware of when those times are.

@ProOneBetterThanProTwo Ай бұрын

I was actually in the ER recently and was so shocked by this, just the cavalcade of noise happening around me all night. Don't know how they expect people to sleep during all that

@amazingsecretsofus 2 ай бұрын

This is amazing! Those alarms impact both the patients and those caring for them, a thoughtful redesign could alleviate significant amounts of stress.

@HeavenlyProphet 4 ай бұрын

This is such a logical solution to a surprisingly prevalent issue, well done.

@samuelygeissler Жыл бұрын

one of my favorite talks! even as an audio geek I never considered how far-reaching the applications could be.

@lincolnmessier1840 10 ай бұрын

Mike's talk has inspired me to be more conscious of sound design and its impact on our well-being. Even small actions can make a difference, so let's strive for a world with better sounds.

@closeconnections8280 11 ай бұрын

The power of good sound is undeniable, and musicians exemplify this every time they perform. It's great to see that Mike is leveraging his musical knowledge to create better sounds for medical devices.

@jacquelinebrumbaugh 9 ай бұрын

I'm so hopeful after listening to Mike's talk. It's inspiring to see how the medical device industry can make such a simple change that can have a huge impact on patient safety and recovery. Let's support this initiative and make a better sounding world!

@flodavis Жыл бұрын

Hi Mike! I'm also an audio geek. I used to spend hours editing annoying or disruptive sounds out of my favourite tracks - like all the clock noises at the start of 'time' by pink floyd. I'm constantly impressed by how far the tech has come in terms of those programs - how anyone can now produce studio quality tracks in their own home... so it's pretty surprising to hear that systems using audio for more practical reasons haven't evolved as well.

@Schutz.percussion Жыл бұрын

Hi Flo - nice to meet a fellow audio geek :) You're quite right - the technology has advanced considerably over the past several decades. I'm just hoping we can use some of that soon in these devices. Thanks for your feedback.

@lesliecrossI 7 ай бұрын

I had never thought about this, and now if I ever go into hospital again I am sure I will hear it over and over

@kashaiq 11 ай бұрын

As a fellow audio geek I can totally relate to Mike's passion for sounds and their beauty. Also enjoyed how he connects the importance of auditory interfaces in fields like train engineering and aviation with those in the medical profession

@suzyqsuzy Ай бұрын

As long as the new designs are enhancing instead of subduing an alarms effectiveness I'm all for it!

@audreylstamford 2 жыл бұрын

I'm all for looking at systems we think have worked for us to realise that we could be doing so much better. We need to be constantly looking at designs, especially old one's, taking stock of how we can do better. Michael, you are brilliant and this made me think about so many things. Thank you!!!!

@Schutz.percussion 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Audrey I"m glad this resonated and sparked some new thinking!

@gavinstyles 3 күн бұрын

I had no idea that the "alarms" in hospitals were actually giving out information. I thought they were... you know alarms!! Like this person is dying do something. Makes a lot more sense now

@vasttrouble5368 8 ай бұрын

Mike's talk about sound and its impact on medical devices was both eye-opening and ear-opening, if that's even a thing! 😄

@franklinpgarner Ай бұрын

It's interesting to think about how stressful hospitals are vs how they could be just because of the impact all that noise is having.

@sukyevers 2 ай бұрын

The part about medical alarms contributing to patient stress and extending hospital stays really hit home for me. If better sound design can help alleviate that, it's definitely worth exploring further.

@BladeStunBert 4 ай бұрын

He's definitely onto something, obviously those alarms ain't cutting it. Time for a change, and your music twist is pretty rad. Count me in for the sound revolution!

@Chat-Vibe 9 ай бұрын

"Death by beep" - that's a chilling phrase. It's wild to think that such a small detail like sound design can have life-or-death consequences. Let's hope the medical industry tunes into this and makes changes for the better.

@elviragabriele 4 ай бұрын

As a nurse, I deal with these alarms daily. It's not just about the sounds; the whole system can get to a point that's just overwhelming.

@oscarayala1 4 ай бұрын

Yeah I remember having to spend a night in hospital and being so frustrated by how annoying all the noise was. I can't imagine how tough it would be if you were in there for awhile.

@gabekilljoy Жыл бұрын

Such a great question. There are things we do, because that's the way we've always done it. Change requires renewed thinking.

@coreykansasbell Жыл бұрын

I can definitely relate to the part about poorly designed headphones/earbuds. People really don't understand how easy it is to damage their ears permanently.

@justanormalboyreallynormal 7 ай бұрын

Definitely agree about how sounds are fascinating, especially when you start looking at resonant frequencies. Really cool stuff.

@lyndagrasten 2 ай бұрын

I'm intrigued by the idea but also curious about the patient and healthcare worker feedback on these changes. It's one thing to design a less annoying alarm, but the real test is how it performs in the chaotic environment of a hospital.

@vickycristena Жыл бұрын

Had surgery last month, and yeah I remember the beeps, all night all day

@bigthinking1715 Жыл бұрын

This sounds like a really complex issue though, like he says around the 3:43 mark those tones are designed to communicate information super quickly so if they do replace them with less annoying noises all of that stuff will have to be re-learnt

@Schutz.percussion Жыл бұрын

Very important point thanks for raising this. What we're doing here is changing individual notes (not the pattern of notes) so that the messages are preserved. Sort of like playing a melody on a good instrument, rather than a terrible instrument. That way it doesn't require re-learning at all. Excellent comment thanks for bringing this up!

@raquel-mercedes 2 жыл бұрын

Less than a minute in and I'm already blown away.

@ayaanthetruth Жыл бұрын

Never thought of this until now, and this is correct, that can drive you crazy!

@gaiasardoni Жыл бұрын

this is a fascinating talk. as someone who has done some sound design here and there I think about it a lot too and I'm surprised at how little others do

@leah-buttons 2 жыл бұрын

wow this is very cool, I would have never have thought about this, but can now cleary see the issue.

@aaronsswank 3 ай бұрын

This is such a fresh perspective to bring to an issue that is so commonly overlooked... I can't help but wonder what other little parts of the system can be tweaked for better results

@lizb5458 Жыл бұрын

Yes Michael, good on you for bringing awareness to this - and wanting to fix it

@ulisseditaque Жыл бұрын

thanks for emailing me this Liz!

@ma-T-oxic 2 жыл бұрын

This is a genuinely fascinating talk. I really learnt something.

@fahrithegreat Жыл бұрын

I've found that even just visiting someone in hospital and having to hear all those beeps sucks. I can't imagine spending days or week surrounded by noises like that.

@jamesbowie4540 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Michael for sharing this.

@margaretstrom 11 ай бұрын

The statistics about deaths caused by bad sounds in medical devices are shocking. It highlights the importance of addressing this issue and finding better solutions to ensure patient safety.