Hi there! Today I want to tell you the fascinating tale of one 20th century innovator who drastically transformed the way our world sounds. Meet William Lang – the quiet warrior who took on the blight of noise pollution and pioneered an entirely new field of engineering in the process.
If you lived through the clattering 50s and 60s when everything from kitchen blenders to subway trains seemed unbearably loud, you know the racket I‘m referring to. By dedicating his career to combatting disruptive noise, Lang made products used by millions significantly quieter. Let‘s peek into his world.
The Makings of an Acoustics Expert
To start off, Lang wasn‘t your average student while growing up in Boston during the 1930s. His father was a WWI fighter pilot, and the roar of propeller aircraft possibly spurred young William‘s innate curiosity in sound. Fast forward a couple decades, and he was working on sonar systems in the Navy during WWII.
After the War, Lang dove deep into the science of acoustics at MIT and obtained a doctorate in physics from Iowa State University in 1955. His thesis research involved ultrasonic waves to advance non-destructive materials testing techniques. For you non-science folks, that‘s basically using sound waves to detect defects in structures. Cool stuff!
Now amidst booming post-war industrialization, companies were struggling with public uproar over clamorous devices like IBM‘s typing equipment which produced up to 68 distracting decibels. That‘s as loud as today‘s typical vacuum cleaner! After tasting both sides of sound technology through the Navy and academia, Lang felt compelled to address this issue and joined IBM in 1958.
Cutting the Noise at Big Blue
At IBM, Lang spearheaded their new noise control division aimed at dramatically reducing product acoustics. I toured their vintage Lexington lab where Lang supervised intense product testing regimes throughout the 60s using custom-built sound chambers.
His innovative application of materials like sound-dampening foams and discovery of novel noise generation mechanisms gave IBM a giant edge. By the late 60s Lang had slashed typewriter clatter by over 50% through fixes like noise-isolating buffers.
| Product | Noise Level – 1958 | Noise Level – 1972 | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Typewriter | 68 db | 60 db | 12% |
| Selectric Typewriter | 75 db | 35 db | 53% |
And this was just the beginning! Lang published over 100 papers documenting his trailblazing techniques that are still cited today. His systems approach combining modifications across mechanical, structural and electronic domains to minimize vibration and sound radiation became integral to IBM‘s design methodology by the 70s.
Planting the seeds of Noise Control Engineering
With momentum from progress at IBM, Lang realized the need for a dedicated body to nurture this burgeoning field. In 1971, he mobilized leading academics to create the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE).
This table shows INCE‘s evolution over 5 decades:
| Era | Membership | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 – 1980 | 500 | Published seminal textbook on noise control (1975) |
| 1981 – 1990 | 2500 | Expanded into Europe through INCE Europe (1985) |
| 1991 – 2000 | 5500 | First National Noise Policy Document (1994) |
| 2001 – 2010 | 11000 | Launch of Noise News International magazine |
| 2011 – Present | 17500 | 130 University noise programs globally! |
You can see how an organization Lang founded with just 40 members has catalyzed progress across noise monitoring, legislation and workforce development spanning over 170 countries today!
And there‘s more. Lang‘s policy input was crucial to manifesting the legal impetus for noise regulation via the 1972 Federal Noise Control Act. I also chuckle at accounts of him strong-arming industry reps to cooperate on creating noise measurement standards.
Lasting Legacy
In his later years, Lang suffered brutal personal tragedy which took his beloved wife Asta. But he found solace in guiding the next generation of acousticians right until the end. Lang authored the keystone reference manual Technology for a Quieter America in 2010, before passing away at 90.
So next time you marvel at the pleasant hum (or lack thereof) from modern gadgets, send a quick salute to William Lang – the intrepid pioneer who silenced the screaming din of the industrial age by spearheading an engineering discipline. Lang‘s legacy reminds us that a harmonious environment is not always noisy chaos. With science and systemic solutions, we can compose symphonies of quietude all around!
I hope you enjoyed this little jaunt through memory lane exploring a change-maker‘s impact on the world we inhabit. If William Lang‘s journey inspires you to curb bothersome background noise or dig deeper into acoustics, I‘d be delighted! Reach out with your thoughts anytime.