Headphone History and Evolution
The first headphones date back to the early 1900s, and have since evolved from barely detecting weak electrical signals to playing high-fidelity stereo music. In the 1970s, music fans saw the launch of headphones that worked with portable stereos, allowing music to travel almost anywhere for the first time. Today’s consumer can choose between headphones ranging from styles that cup or rest on the ears to inner-ear styles that sit deep within the ear canal. In the late 1990s, “ear buds” gained immense popularity when the MP3 player became all the rage for enjoying music on-the-go. Portable music innovation continues to soar, and today’s common ear buds, canal buds, and canal phones, as well as over-the-ear models, are able to deliver sound that was previously only attainable through home stereo speakers. The idea of blocking outside sounds (known as “noise canceling”) or canceling all outside sounds through ear plug style designs (known as “sound isolation”) have been wildly popular and marketed by a number of manufacturers over the years. But even the highest quality headphones have drawbacks and limitations; which is what led to the creation of InAir Technology. Some of these limitations include:
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When speakers are inserted into the ear, the sound bypasses the natural conditioning and sensing elements leading to a disconnected effect of sound coming from the middle of the listener’s head. |
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Sound isolation and noise cancelling headphones can create a level of social isolation and feeling of detachment from the surroundings. A listener hears his own heartbeat and footsteps, but is not able to engage with the outside world. |
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Environmental safety is compromised as listeners can’t hear traffic or other social safety cues when enjoying their favorite active hobbies. |
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Health issues can arise when a headphone fits deep inside the ear, because a plugged ear during exercise can cause growth of micro-bacteria. In addition, many users report increased ear wax. |
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Long term or permanent hearing damage has been reported when users are exposed to higher dB levels over long periods of time. |
The Development of InAir Technology
InAir Technology utilizes the ear to its full advantage by optimizing its natural ability to adjust the leverage point of the anvil (incus), controlling the intensity of sound transmitted to the cochlea. The patent pending InAir Technology drives sound towards the open ear, allowing personal listening with an experience similar to having a high quality, surround sound home stereo system while still allowing ambient sounds to be heard. This allows the listener to interact socially and take music into more settings because of the ability to stay connected and multi-task. Products that utilize InAir Technology can be safer and more sanitary than traditional headphones because they reside outside the ear. |
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