In the sixties and seventies they called it “white noise”–the background blanket of sound that relaxes some—and makes others more productive. Then, The Sharper Image made it personal with their Sleep Sound Machine.
From Time.com comes a review of three background noise websites. For starters, there's Coffitivity.com. This site recreates the pleasant background sounds of a coffee shop. Perfect for anyone who finds that atmosphere more conducive for work. Coffitivity lets you dial in how much activity you want. Choose from Morning Murmur, Lunchtime Lounge, or the more restful, University Undertones.
Noisli.com offers a huge array of background sounds you blend together for the perfect combination of relaxation or focus—depending on your mood: rustling wind, a crackling fire or passing train. A user-selectable screen visual allows you to match what you hear with what you “see” emotionally.
MyNoise.net bases its sound palette on actual research and offers soundscapes specifically designed for health recovery, meditation, or just plain sound blocking. The website automatically calibrates for your system's speakers and your personal hearing.
Who knew there were so many toys for noise?
But in a sound-soaked society like ours, I'm wondering if more noise is what we really need.
Ecclesiastes 3:7 reminds us there's “a time to be silent.” In Psalms 46:10 we're told, “Be still and know that I am God.”
I submit that some of the world's most effective soundscapes are found in the 23rd Psalm– He makes me lie down in green pastures. Can you hear the birds? He leads me beside the still waters. Hear that peaceful trickle?
What you and I need is not more sound for the sake of noise…but peace for the sake of our souls.
You won’t get that online. Only in God and His Word.