2012: Companies are redesigning offices, piping in special background noise to improve the acoustics and bringing in engineers to solve volume issues. “Sound masking” has become a buzz phrase. 1853: Indeed, not only would he be reckless and sadly given to making blots in the afternoon, but some days he went further and was rather noisy.  Further reading: Ben Kafka’s take on Bartleby, the Scrivener from our Lines of Work Issue.

2012: Companies are redesigning offices, piping in special background noise to improve the acoustics and bringing in engineers to solve volume issues. “Sound masking” has become a buzz phrase.

1853: Indeed, not only would he be reckless and sadly given to making blots in the afternoon, but some days he went further and was rather noisy. 

Further reading: Ben Kafka’s take on Bartleby, the Scrivener from our Lines of Work Issue.