If you’ve ever walked into a cafe, bar or restaurant and left shortly after entering the room because it was too loud, you’re not alone. Mumbli – a UK tech start-up – estimates that 86% of 20-40 year olds leave because noise levels are too high. But things could change for the better if the company’s hearing wellness platform takes off. Mumbli wants to make everyone’s life more peaceful and believes smart IoT devices could provide the answer.
The company has received funding from the UK government to test its noise monitoring systems in 2021. And based on positive feedback from bars, restaurants and customers, the company is expanding its operations. To finance the activity, Mumbli is preparing a funding round, which includes a campaign on Seeders – a crowdfunding platform.
“With our crowdfunding activity, we plan to expand Mumbli further from its foundations in East London with a rollout across the capital, as well as Paris and New York,” said Marion Marincat, Founder of Mumbli. “Mumbli will not only benefit people who are sensitive to sound or noise, but will also benefit businesses that are losing a lot of money due to people’s inability to spend time in a space that is too noisy.”
Opportunities for increased income
The fact that places that are too noisy can reduce profits may not be something that business owners are fully aware of. And Mumbli thinks some establishments could be losing thousands of pounds every month because they are out of touch with the needs of their customers. Reversing this, customers are 76% less likely to leave if the atmosphere inside the venue matches their expectations, according to figures from the company’s website.
Installing a hearing wellness platform gives business owners the ability to track sound levels and improve their audio environment. From a health perspective, long-term exposure to high sound levels is detrimental to hearing. Additionally, there is a growing awareness of the negative impact noise pollution has on mental health. Plus, with over a billion people around the world living with hearing problems, noisy spaces only make their lives worse.
Mumbli’s IoT device setup includes beacons that continuously measure sound levels. And that means venue operators can quickly see where loud and quiet areas are in their building. Additionally, data from the Hearing Wellness Platform can point to easy gains, such as moving furniture or adding plants, which can improve a room’s acoustics. Noise alerts, sent through a companion app, can prevent complaints and help protect a venue’s license. And if compliance reporting is required, the system could be used to generate the necessary data.
IoT sensor detail: Mumbli’s compact noise monitoring devices are similar in size to a cup of coffee to go. Image credit: Mumbli.
API call
Through an API, users can link the hearing wellness platform to other building systems. For example, the data could be used to automatically adjust the volume of a public address system. There are also other possibilities, such as linking noise levels to music playlists. As the room becomes busier, the system can trigger sounds that better suit the mood. Finance teams may want to incorporate data into their analytics tools. This would allow them to look for patterns between sound levels and revenue, which could help refine operations.
Companies that get it right, in terms of meeting sound expectations, are listed on Mumbli’s ‘Certified for Sound Map’ – a searchable list of sites selected for their noise considerations. The online resource offers recommended, verified and live entries, which are mostly clustered around pilot locations in London. However, as Marincat mentioned, the tech company has ambitions to bring its technology to many other sites. And the seed funding will help the company expand its operations and further develop its hearing wellness platform.
In the world of gadgets, there is a lot of interest in noise-canceling technology, and headphones with these features are sure to be popular gifts this holiday season. But the best way to make the world more peaceful, at least sonically, is to tackle noise at its source. And smart IoT sensors capable of monitoring sound levels – making their data available in an actionable format – have the potential to change things for the better.
Atmospheric upgrade
Automation means staff can focus their attention on serving customers and simply adjust sound levels when prompted. Customers do not want their cafes, bars and restaurants to be silent; it is important that the places retain their atmosphere. And Mumbli’s Noise Monitoring Tags can put a number on it to help set convenient upper and lower limits. “Social spaces should be quiet enough for people to have a conversation, but busy enough to be bustling and lively,” the company writes.
Larger venues can make themselves even more inclusive by ensuring there are quieter spaces for customers who need them. Sensors can be placed in multiple locations and information made available in real time via a dashboard, allowing operators to see where and when everything is quiet. So the next time you’re strolling around town, it might be worth listening to see if the smart IoT sensors are busy optimizing your surroundings.
#Smart #IoT #Devices #Create #Hearing #Wellness #Platform #TechHQ