2023-11-27 11:20:12
◀ Reporter ▶
This is an on-site verification that confirms facts at the news site.
These days, many people use wireless earphones like this.
Wireless earphones are equipped with a ‘noise canceling’ function that almost completely blocks external noise with a simple operation.
The principle is to increase immersion by eliminating noise by canceling it out with an opposite waveform when external noise is detected.
It is said that because of these advantages, it can actually be dangerous for pedestrians.
We will verify on site how dangerous it actually is.
◀ Report ▶
A back road in a university district in Seoul where cars and people always mix.
I followed pedestrians wearing earphones or headphones and started talking to them.
“teacher teacher!”
I can’t hear you.
“teacher teacher!”
The same thing happens.
Part of it is because I’m listening to something immersed, but it’s also because the performance of earphones and headphones has improved these days.
It is a ‘noise canceling’ function that completely blocks out surrounding noise.
[고현석]
″Cars are loud, so I usually wear noise-canceling earphones.″
Was it just comfortable?
[문국]
″There are times when I can’t see the car coming from behind. There was a time when I was surprised when a car came from behind while going in the middle.”
How much do actual earphones and headphones interfere with your ability to perceive your surroundings?
We conducted an experiment with the Road Traffic Authority with the cooperation of three participants.
First, earphones.
When I turned on the noise canceling function, I might barely detect a diesel vehicle with a loud engine until it was only 0.8m behind me.
When noise canceling is turned off, it is recognized at a distance of 4.6m.
If you adjust it to hear ambient noise, it will detect a car coming from 8.7 meters away.
Headphones that cover both ears are similar.
When I turned on noise canceling, I didn’t notice at all even if a car came right next to me.
Even with this function turned off, it was recognized only when approached at a distance of 1.3m, and when ambient sound was allowed, it was recognized at a distance of 4m.
What regarding electric vehicles that make less noise?
If you measure the noise of an electric vehicle traveling at low speeds, it is regarding 65 dB.
Since the noise is at the level of a normal conversation, it may be more difficult to notice a vehicle approaching.
As a result of the experiment, when noise canceling was turned on for both earphones and headphones, most participants had no idea that an electric car was right next to them.
Even with ambient sounds set to be heard, I only noticed a car coming from an average of 1.5 meters away.
Unlike controlled experiments like these, real-world distances have far more risk factors.
Abroad, it often leads to accidents.
Last May, in New York, USA, a teenager wearing headphones was hit and killed by a train while crossing the railroad tracks.
[이세원/도로교통공단 선임연구원]
″The noise-canceling function that many earphones and headphones feature makes it harder to hear sounds from surrounding situations, which can be very dangerous as it slows down your response to unexpected situations.″
Especially these days, there are many vehicles with significantly reduced noise, such as electric vehicles, making it more dangerous.
It is safe not to use earphones or headphones while walking, but experts advise that even if it is unavoidable, you should actively utilize the function to bring in ambient sounds.
This is Song Jeong-hoon, field verification.
Video coverage: Kim Seung-woo / Video editing: Moon Myeong-bae
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