Innovative "skull bone headphone" to reach mass market

Wang · Jun 16, 2006, 20:51

Innovative "skull bone headphone" to reach mass market

June 14, 2006

An innovative headphone that uses the vibrations of the skull bone instead of the eardrum to transmit sounds is poised to go on sale in earnest in Japan.

Morito Co., a wholesaler of footwear and apparel materials said Wednesday it has tied up with Goldendance Co., the developer of the new headphone, called Audio Bone, and acquired the exclusive rights to sell the product in Japan.

People normally recognize sounds by detecting vibrations in the air through the eardrum. But Goldendance''s "bone conduction" technology bypasses the eardrum, sending vibrations through the skull to the auditory nerve.

The Audio Bone, for use with portable music players, is attached to the temple while in use and does not cover the ears. As a result, users can hear what other people say or other sounds while listening to music.

The new headphone also prevents the heavy burden imposed on the eardrum when people listen to music with conventional headphones.

You can read the rest here.

Kinsao · Jun 16, 2006, 22:15

The physics of it makes sense, but I'm not so sure I trust the biology...

Wouldn't it subject the brain to these vibrations too?

JimmySeal · Jun 16, 2006, 23:11

If you could really bypass the eardrum by placing vibrations on the temple, wouldn't they have developed this long ago for people with damaged eardrums?

Besides, it sounds like it would give you one hell of a headache in a short period of time.

breez · Jun 17, 2006, 22:15

Originally Posted by JimmySeal

If you could really bypass the eardrum by placing vibrations on the temple, wouldn't they have developed this long ago for people with damaged eardrums?

I'm quite sure such a thing exists, but it is very limited in regards to possible frequencies if I remember correctly.

I wonder if any acceptable audio quality (for listening music) is at all possible with this technology.

edit: http://www.umm.edu/otolaryngology/baha.html and http://www.pde.com/~kazemir/HearingAids.htm

Originally Posted by http://www.pde.com/~kazemir/HearingAids.htm

As with any other hearing aid, the quality of sound from a bone conduction hearing aid is not perfect. Both the dynamic range and the frequency range are limited, resulting in sound similar to listening through a telephone. Another disadvantage, which is specific to hearing by "bone conduction," is that the listener hears in "mono." When the bone is vibrated in any location, the sound travels to both inner ears at almost the same time.

I think this headphone using bone conduction is not much more than a gimmick.

I can see the market for cell phone headsets though.

Wang · Jun 17, 2006, 18:05

Wait for some reviews of this new device or try it out yourself when possible.

**Mars Man** · Jun 18, 2006, 01:02

At the moment I cannot say anything about that product. I can say that I have heard of the idea of using vibration to help deaf people 'hear', if you will--using different cortex systems.

I would not be surprized if it were to weaken the hearing system some. MM

ozone_00 · Nov 25, 2006, 15:46

What, none of you have tried this with a set of regular headphones? The sound isn't the greatest but it works. My guess is that the inventor has done the same thing before and just decided to tweek it to sound better.

breez · Nov 28, 2006, 18:52

I don't think any kind of tweaking will allow sound quality good enough for music listening. If expensive, medical grade equipment cannot produce anything but limited quality, a cheap mass produced product certainly cannot either.

Jun 16, 2006, 20:51	#1
Wang Regular Member Join Date: Apr 21, 2004 Location: Originally from Taiwan Posts: 324	Innovative "skull bone headphone" to reach mass market Innovative "skull bone headphone" to reach mass market June 14, 2006 An innovative headphone that uses the vibrations of the skull bone instead of the eardrum to transmit sounds is poised to go on sale in earnest in Japan. Morito Co., a wholesaler of footwear and apparel materials said Wednesday it has tied up with Goldendance Co., the developer of the new headphone, called Audio Bone, and acquired the exclusive rights to sell the product in Japan. People normally recognize sounds by detecting vibrations in the air through the eardrum. But Goldendance''s "bone conduction" technology bypasses the eardrum, sending vibrations through the skull to the auditory nerve. The Audio Bone, for use with portable music players, is attached to the temple while in use and does not cover the ears. As a result, users can hear what other people say or other sounds while listening to music. The new headphone also prevents the heavy burden imposed on the eardrum when people listen to music with conventional headphones. You can read the rest here. __________________ 台湾共和国 Republic of Taiwan. Freedom for Taiwan.

Jun 16, 2006, 22:15	#2
Kinsao Horizon Rider Join Date: May 8, 2005 Location: England Age: 30 Posts: 7,419	The physics of it makes sense, but I'm not so sure I trust the biology... Wouldn't it subject the brain to these vibrations too? __________________ K to the core

Jun 17, 2006, 22:15	#4
breez Regular Member Join Date: Dec 18, 2005 Location: Finland Age: 22 Posts: 45	Originally Posted by JimmySeal If you could really bypass the eardrum by placing vibrations on the temple, wouldn't they have developed this long ago for people with damaged eardrums? I'm quite sure such a thing exists, but it is very limited in regards to possible frequencies if I remember correctly. I wonder if any acceptable audio quality (for listening music) is at all possible with this technology. edit: http://www.umm.edu/otolaryngology/baha.html and http://www.pde.com/~kazemir/HearingAids.htm Originally Posted by http://www.pde.com/~kazemir/HearingAids.htm As with any other hearing aid, the quality of sound from a bone conduction hearing aid is not perfect. Both the dynamic range and the frequency range are limited, resulting in sound similar to listening through a telephone. Another disadvantage, which is specific to hearing by "bone conduction," is that the listener hears in "mono." When the bone is vibrated in any location, the sound travels to both inner ears at almost the same time. I think this headphone using bone conduction is not much more than a gimmick. I can see the market for cell phone headsets though.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Japan's Changing "Culture" and "Tradition"	McTojo	History & Traditions	31	Oct 20, 2005 22:49
Use of "anata", "kanojo", and "kare"	steverino	Learning Japanese	14	Jun 9, 2005 04:09
Japanese' use of the words "claim" and "recycle"	Golgo_13	All Things Japanese	0	May 11, 2004 11:03
I need a little help - "get back on terms" and "break clear"	Teppei	英語勉強フォーラム - Learning English	3	May 1, 2004 02:50

Jun 16, 2006, 23:11	#3
JimmySeal Tubthumper Join Date: Mar 5, 2006 Location: Japan Age: 27 Posts: 1,301	If you could really bypass the eardrum by placing vibrations on the temple, wouldn't they have developed this long ago for people with damaged eardrums? Besides, it sounds like it would give you one hell of a headache in a short period of time.

Jun 17, 2006, 18:05	#5
Wang Regular Member Join Date: Apr 21, 2004 Location: Originally from Taiwan Posts: 324	Wait for some reviews of this new device or try it out yourself when possible.

Jun 18, 2006, 01:02	#6
Mars Man Kami-sama Join Date: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 4,292 Blog Entries: 1	At the moment I cannot say anything about that product. I can say that I have heard of the idea of using vibration to help deaf people 'hear', if you will--using different cortex systems. I would not be surprized if it were to weaken the hearing system some. MM

Nov 25, 2006, 15:46	#7
ozone_00 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 25, 2006 Posts: 1	What, none of you have tried this with a set of regular headphones? The sound isn't the greatest but it works. My guess is that the inventor has done the same thing before and just decided to tweek it to sound better.

Nov 28, 2006, 18:52	#8
breez Regular Member Join Date: Dec 18, 2005 Location: Finland Age: 22 Posts: 45	I don't think any kind of tweaking will allow sound quality good enough for music listening. If expensive, medical grade equipment cannot produce anything but limited quality, a cheap mass produced product certainly cannot either.