[blindkid] Aftershokz Bone Conduction Headphones

Tue Sep 25 04:19:51 UTC 2012

Very interesting. I'm not certain "new technology" is totally accurate, but I haven't seen any fresh bone conduction products for a long time. Several sources claim the concept was discovered at least as early as Ludwig van Beethoven, who was nearly deaf. It is claimed that he would play a piano attached to a rod and then he could bite the rod and actually hear through his jawbone.

Back around 1979 there was a product called the "Bone Fone". As I recall they only offered it as a personal radio but there may have been a "headphones only" version (I only ever saw a radio version). It was a slightly different concept in that you wore it around your neck over your shoulders, almost like a towel draped around behind your neck and down over your collar bone, but it had to be the same basic system. Bone Fones sounded pretty good "back in the day". As I recall (and as would make sense technically) there was reduced sound frequency response on the high end-- don't expect crisp, "sizzling" highs with music.

I expect I will want to try a pair of these myself. Wish I could test them locally, but I haven't ever seen any around locally. I think Kendra would like them and I could see myself using a set at the gym as well. For those not familiar with the concept, since the sound doesn't go through the air conventionally, they are nearly silent for those nearby the headphones, and this also means the sound is not going straight into the ears, so sound in the room still sounds normal. A student should be able to use the headphones and still hear a teacher or the student in the next desk talking, for example.

If you have ever put your chin on something like a speaker cabinet that suddenly made music get louder in your head, or I can recall doing the same thing with my forehead before, I guess it was probably against a glass window with loud music on the other side, that is the effect I would anticipate.

I think the Jawbone bluetooth headsets actually use the reverse principle to pickup your voice for the mic more accurately than through the air. That's why you are required to have the lower part of the phone touching your cheek. It would pickup vibrations right where your jawbone is connected.

Here are some more links on the general concept:

Bone Phone (1980 Ad):
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/bone-fone/

Audiobones (2005):
http://portableaudio.engadget.com/2005/12/30/audiobones-bone-conduction-earphones/

Bone conduction article:
http://www.goldendance.co.jp/English/boneconduct/01.html

On Sep 24, 2012, at 2:21 PM, DrV wrote:

> Hi All,
> Do any of you have personal experience with these? How do you like them?
> EricV
> 
> On 6/25/12 9:45 AM, "Dr. Denise M Robinson" <deniserob at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> If you want to hear music and use your cane walking down a street, you can
>> safely and hear everything around you.
>> 
>> If you want to sit in class and hear your talking software and your
>> teacher
>> at the same time, you can.
>> 
>> These headphones are changing the playing field for my blind and
>> deaf/blind
>> students.....an outstanding product to make life easier. And if you are
>> sighted, well, they are just cool if you want to hear for the crying baby
>> or hear the sports game and still hear surrounding life.
>> 
>> This new technology will solve all sorts of listening issues. Learn more
>> at:
>> *REVIEW - Aftershokz - Bone Conduction
>> Headphones<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0IIM7GjFxQ>
>> *
>> 
>> If you want a pair for yourself, here is the site: *
>> https://www.aftershokz.com/*
>> 
>> If you would like a discount to order a pair, here is a discount code: *
>> U-R-ABLE121*
>> 
>> If you would like to just call them to order a pair:   *315-218-0308*
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> *Denise*
>> 
>> Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
>> CEO, TechVision, LLC
>> Specialist in Technology/Training/Teaching for blind/low vision
>> 509-674-1853
>> 
>> Website with hundreds of informational articles & lessons on PC, Office
>> products, Mac, iPad/iTools and more, all done with
>> keystrokes: www.yourtechvision.com
>> 
>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
>> doing it." --Chinese Proverb
>> 
>> Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and stupid: humans are incredibly
>> slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond
>> imagination.
>> --Albert Einstein
>> 
>> It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
>> --Walt Disney
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> 
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