Hugo Fastl

Prof. Hugo Fastl is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), holding a position in the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, and leading the Chair of Human-Machine Communication. His research integrates engineering and acoustics, focusing on psychoacoustics, audio-visual interactions, and applications in noise assessment, sound quality design, and hearing disorder diagnosis. A pioneer in interdisciplinary acoustics, he has contributed to audio technology and musical acoustics.

Prof. Fastl earned his Dipl.-Ing. in Electrical Engineering (1970) and studied Music at the Munich University of Music (1969), majoring in double bass. He completed his doctorate (1974) and habilitation (1981) at TUM, later serving as a visiting professor at Osaka University (1987) and as an associate professor of technical acoustics at TUM (1991). His career has spanned academia and industry, blending theoretical and applied research.

His scientific contributions include seminal work on psychoacoustic parameters in automotive noise assessment and foundational textbooks like Psychoacoustics: Facts and Models (2007). Key awards include the EAA Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) and the Rayleigh Medal (2003). His research bridges engineering principles with human perception, addressing both technical and auditory challenges in communication systems.

Prof. Fastl’s work extends to video quality assessment and signal processing innovations, as seen in his development of a hybrid metric for digital video quality (2011) and blind estimation of blocking artifacts (2010). His interdisciplinary approach underscores the intersection of technology and human experience.