[Prototype] 3D Printed Earbuds Give Hearing Aids Aesthetic & Functional Boost
Description

We have learnt quite a bit about 3d printed prosthetics and how they can be created easily and inexpensively. Just like prosthetics and a lot of other things, 3d printing can be used to print another very commonly used assistive technology device – hearing aids. However, what is the reason for someone to consider 3d printing when so many other hearing aids are readily available?

It all comes down to autonomy and full control of what the hearing aids should look like and what they should do. Assistive technology devices have, for a long time, been notorious for lacking aesthetics, style and design elements. Even though the currently available hearing aids may do a good job of matching skin tone, they lack design traits that may make a deaf user self-conscious of their disability.

For reasons mentioned above, Elen Parry, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University, designed a 3d printed prototype that takes social inclusion to a whole new level. Her earbuds not only provide an aesthetically pleasing style to the wearer but also add a functional upgrade by including an E1 chip receiver and processor that differentiates between background noise and speech,  lowering the former and increasing the latter so the user could hear clearly in a loud environment. This function also protects the inner ear and prolongs healthy ear function. Since these earbuds are Bluetooth enabled, multiple people could jump on to the same audio stream. Multiple people in the same group could be listening to different speakers on nearby stages and avoid cross chatter.

image showing various parts of the hex earbuds

Ultimately, the idea here is that someone, who has an eye for design, can easily work with other community members and create custom hearing aids or ear buds (or any other device) that can give a stylish boost to assistive technology, improve functionality, and work towards removing social barriers and enhance human ability.

Check out the source links for more information on Elen Parry’s HeX earbuds.

Source: Elen Parry via 3ders

The post [Prototype] 3D Printed Earbuds Give Hearing Aids Aesthetic & Functional Boost appeared first on Assistive Technology Blog.

Comments
Order by: 
Per page:
 
  • There are no comments yet
Related Feed Entries
The award-winning researcher’s discoveries have changed the way we think about the brain; that’s exactly what her critics dislike. SourceSource: Spectrum News
22 hours ago · From Spectrum News
by Temi An I sometimes find myself saddened into silence. Under the weight of grief, the brain signals that are supposed to tell my vocal chords to move don’t make it to their destination. The inertia doesn’t just stop at my throat. My diaphragm heavies up like a two-tonne brick. My lung…
2 days ago · From The Art of Autism
The cerebellum swelled in size before flight evolved among modern birds’ dinosaur ancestors, according to a new comparison of fossilized skulls and living birds. SourceSource: Spectrum News
3 days ago · From Spectrum News
Bioengineers at UCLA have developed a thin, flexible device that can aid people with voice disorders in regaining their ability to speak. The device adheres to the neck and translates the muscle movements of the larynx into audible speech using machine learning. This self-powered technology could se…
3 days ago · From Assistive Technology Blog
At California Baptist University, a unique camp is empowering deaf students by teaching them coding through the creation of video games. The program, spearheaded by the dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, leverages American Sign Language interpreters, including some who are st…
4 days ago · From Assistive Technology Blog
Rate
0 votes
Info
19.12.2018 (19.12.2018)
392 Views
0 Subscribers
Recommend
Tags