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Headset Uses Bone-Conduction Technology

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the something-to-jaw-about dept.

Wired reports that a new headset is on the way to solve all those background noise problems you have had with your cell phone in crowded areas. This new bluetooth headset uses "bone-conduction" technology that converts vibrations from you jaw into sound. The article claims it should be available as early as later this year for around $200.

3 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Has been available outside the US for a while now by bravni · · Score: 5, Informative

    In Japan for instance:

    http://www.thingsasian.com/goto_article/article.26 67.html

  2. Re:great! by ichigo+2.0 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Only the microphone part utilises vibrations, the sounds are still outputted with standard soundwaves-into-your-eardrum technologies...

  3. Re:Effects of external noise? by zlogic · · Score: 3, Informative

    No.
    The skull acts the same as a loudspeaker's enclosure (or a guitar body) - greatly amplifying low and medium frequency waves (try saying aaaa or mmmmmm with your hand on top of your head).
    So if you pick up sound directly from the bone, you'll be recording the sound directly from its source, and background noises would be too weak compared to your own voice (except when a plane flies really low or you are at a really loud rock concert).
    That's like putting a microphone inside a loudspeaker. Of course it will record noises, but only really loud ones will be of any significance.