Abstract:
The aim of this study is to find out the effects of speech and
speech intelligibility on computer-based task performance in
open-plan offices. The research was conducted in a real
open-plan office environment to include the open-office
experience of subjects to the analysis. STM Bilkent Office was
selected as the case, and 40 available open-office occupants
were participated to the study. The experiment consists of
two main phases. In the first phase, acoustical simulation of
the site was done, to derive distribution graphs for speech
related room acoustics parameters. In the second phase,
occupants’ computer-based task performances were tested
under three different sound environments, which are
continuous noise, speech and masked speech. According to
statistical analysis of the performance test, and the
acoustical properties of the case STM, suggestions for
renovation were discussed. It was found that effects of
intelligible speech on occupants’ task performance are only
psychological, because it is significant that there is no
difference between results of performance test. However, all
of the occupants respond to the questionnaires that speech
sound environment was the most distracting one. Proposal
for renovation was given to minimize the effects of
intelligible speech on occupants for preventing the long-term
effects on occupants’ health.
