Barkhausen created the loudness level measure in the 1920s

Evidence

Loudness comparisons can lead to more precise results than magnitude estimations. For this reason the loudness level measure was created to characterize the loudness sensation of any sound. It was introduced in the twenties by Barkhausen, the researcher whose name was shortened to create a unit for critical-band rate, the Bark. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1169

Categorization

• XREF: Connects the Bark unit’s etymology to critical-band rate concepts from earlier chapters.