Although the white-collar labor force has grown much in recent years, actual productivity has been declining. Some have observed that the problem lies in the increasing worker density of office buildings. There are simply more people being employed per square foot of office space. As such, declining productivity is a consequence of worker interruptions and overcrowding. Noise is a big factor in this problem. As offices become more densely populated, there are more employee conversations and equipment noise that creates the kind of distractions that cut into worker productivity. In effect, the growth of the white collar industries has reached a tipping point in which an increasing worker population means less productivity from the space shared, not more.

One way to stave off the disruptions generated by office noise is to utilize white noise; a form of noise that has more to do with wavelengths than with the color white itself. It is a combination of multiple sound frequencies emitted across one stream, similar to how white light is the light which results from the absorption of multiple light frequencies.

The result of these properties is that when it is broadcast loudly enough, white noise can mask most of the noises around it by absorbing it into its own blend of frequencies. It can serve as an effective remedy against the noise pollution caused by ringing telephones, street traffic, humming workstations and idle chitchat and has often been used to aid the physical and emotional stress induced by noise pollution.

The above-mentioned qualities have translated into the increasing popularity of white noise machines, which have been put to good use in offices that suffer from noise pollution. These machines have been able to provide respite from noise pollution and are also being used outside of the office to help people sleep at night, especially those who live on busy streets.