Finally, they selected a plastic material to use as noise shielding material for the Quiet Curtains nursing home prototype. This is a deceptively large number as decibels are logarithmic units of measurement rather than linear. It's akin to saying that if 16 toddlers were screaming 'I want Mommy' all at the same time on one side of the curtain, with a 12dB reduction on the other side, it would appear as though only one toddler was screaming. What impresses me is that Quiet Curtains are such a practical solution to a real problem. And they give us a real opportunity to do more research.
Plans are underway for further testing of the curtains in nursing home settings.
Due to the noise shielding inserts, Quiet Curtains are heavier than regular curtains. Yet they remain easy to transport by folding up accordion style. This is done by adding a transparent noise shielding sheet, such as Plexiglas or glass, and cutting away a portion of the exterior fabric. A shade can then be added to this window and raised or lowered when desired. Though initially designed with nursing homes in mind, Quiet Curtains have broad consumer applications, says Ahuja.