Cairo is one of the worlds noisier cities – from the constant stream of honking cars, the mosques calling worshippers to prayer, TV’s blaring out from pretty much any stall that has access an available power source, or sales pitches from street vendors. And yes the occasional ring tone.

To what extent do ambient noise levels affect device usage and in particular media consumption? Do high noise levels force a ‘retreat’ into using headphones or reducing consumption to visual only? Or does the high noise level make it more acceptable to introduce your own noise into the public space?

For such an aural city it makes sense to utilize audio to explain the city and its inhabitants, hence the recording of ambient audio from taxi’s, streets, markets and beyond.