Making a noise about sound measurement
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK’s National Measurement Institute, provides measurement services to government and industry. Its acoustics team recently undertook a project to develop rapid mapping techniques for soundfields, to better understand how ‘dead spots’ are created by loudspeakers. The idea was to provide a service to high-end speaker manufacturers which will help them eliminate these spots through better design. The research was completed and NPL wanted to showcase the work publically to commercial speaker manufacturers, to take the technology closer to industry and explore further funding routes for developing the research.
Proof worked with NPL to develop materials, including a press release, NPL website article and a YouTube video, to explain the research in clear language and highlight the business value it would bring to this audience. We invited the editor of Pro Sound News Europe – a leading title for audio professionals – to visit NPL’s acoustics department and learn about the technology. After they had published an exclusive feature, we followed up with a press release to other key titles.
A number of sites picked up the story including blogs on Scientific American and New Scientist, incorporating the YouTube Video. The video received over 15,000 hits, most directly linked to the coverage secured.
Most importantly keen industrial interest has been shown, and discussions regarding future funding routes are now taking place.
Ian Butterworth, who leads the project, said “The results have been beyond what we ever could have hoped for. In this case, PR proved a better way of getting where we want than trying to identify the right people and set up meetings with them”.
