Your Mac Has a Hidden White Noise Generator

[Pinback]

https://lifehacker.com/your-mac-has-a-hidden-white-noise-generator-1849760988

I found this article searching for an answer to why my Macbook was emitting white noise this morning. I had logged out before going to bed and left the computer asleep with the lid closed. I noticed the hissing noise when I got close, and opened the lid: black screen, unresponsive touchpad and keyboard. Computer was not hot or exhibiting any signs of trouble. I did a force shutdown by pressing the power button, and it started up normally. Odd.

I didn't find an answer to why this happened, but the article is interesting. I've used third-party white noise generators in the past, but now I see that with the current version of MacOS (Ventura), you have this built in. Here's the info from the link:

How to enable Background Sounds on macOS Ventura

You can find the white noise generator in your Mac’s settings menu. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and select System Settings. Next, select Accessibility in the left sidebar and click Audio in the right pane. Go to the Background Sounds section to enable Background Sounds. Once you’ve done that, you can select from a bunch of different sounds for your Mac. Click the Choose button next to Background Sound and you’ll see the following options:

• Balanced Noise


• Bright Noise


• Dark Noise


• Ocean


• Rain


• Stream

Hit the download button next to the sounds you want to download. That’ll save them to your Mac so you can also play them if you’re offline.

[roomtomove]

1. it is not white noise

is is noise that emanates from the secret recording device that listens and records everything that happens in your home.....

[underpants]

2. Could be for relaxation or a feature for the blind and visually impaired

Steve Jobs integrated programming for the disabled from the very beginning. Apple is widely preferred in that community. Androids farm it out so those features are added in later and not a part of the original design.

[Pinback]

4. Yes, makes sense.

Some of Apple’s design propensities annoy me, but I do appreciate the features that help assist people with disabilities — although I don’t need significant help in those areas myself (yet!).

I imagine a noise generator could help mask background sounds to assist focus or mute bothersome sounds, for example for people with extreme sensitivity to certain frequencies or volume levels.

In my desk jockey years, I sometimes used headphones with a white noise generator to drown out nearby loud talkers and conference calls. It sometimes even helped control the persistent Voice of Dread between my ears. Now that I’m retired, that voice has less power, although it does have some new scripts, so I always have to stay one step ahead. 😵‍💫

[mitch96]

3. Way cool. Tnx..nt