I was reading in my Discover magazine about a new phone that uses a different technology than we are used to. But, before I tell you about it, let me ask you a question. If you are in a high noise level area like around running machinery or at a NHRA Top Fuel Drag Race, and want to use your cell phone or want to answer it when someone calls, what do you do? No, in situations like that I can't hear it but then I put it on vibrate mode. Of course at the races, if two top fuel cars are going down the track, I wouldn't even feel it!! I would also be wearing ear protection of some kind.
Enter the Torque phone from Kyocera. It can transmit sound though bone and soft tussue. Just touch it to your head anywhere; on the forehead, at the back of the skull, on the tip of your nose, anywhere, and low and behold, you can hear the phone!! This way, it bypasses all the surround sound (and you don't have to have the volume turned up so loud that everyone within a hundred feet of you can hear what is being said to you). I am hard of hearing and wear hearing aids. I am sure this phone would work great for me.
It is easier to transmit sound through something solid like bone, but they are coming up with the technology to transmit sound through soft tissue, too. That solves a lot of problems for the many, many hearing impaired people in the world. There are already stuff on the market that use this technology, but the system they use only transmit sound through bone where as this new phone can use both bone and tissue. Ain't science and technology wonderful when it is directed toward helping instead of hurting people? Now have yourselves a very good Monday, you HEAR?
It's just wonderful, what they come up with.
ReplyDeleteHello???? HELLLO????? Can ya hear me now?
ReplyDeleteTrouble, technology, if used to help, is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBB, LOUD and clear!!
How can they be sure of the long term effects of this technology. There is evidence that even heavy cell phone use may be harmful, so I wouldn't want to jump on the bandwagon with something that could possibly mess up bone and soft tissue. Now if I was totally hearing impaired I might think I had nothing to use by trying it, but I doubt most people really need that technology. Of course the marketers will try to convince us all that everyone needs the technology.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain levels of sound I can't hear... so Bill put my phone on vibrate the other day. Apparently I've lost my sense of touch as well as hearing... he called me 3 times and I never heard/felt a thing. Now... would I have to walk around with the darned phone plastered to my forehead so my bones would know it's ringing?
ReplyDeleteGypsy, the sound waves traveling through the bone would be an unknown. Maybe after years of use a health problem would become apperant.
ReplyDeleteThe Odd Essay, I am like you, I can't hear my cell phone ring if I am in a noisy area. Instead of taping the phone to my head, I would have to come up with some kind of head gear to support it. Like a doctors reflecer and light in the old movies.
Should work great for me, as my head is almost all bone. :)
ReplyDeletebelieve me, you are not the only bone head out there, count me as one, too.
DeleteI do not own a cell phone but I can see where this would be beneficial to someone with a hearing impediment.
ReplyDeleteI know that when I am at the top fuel drag races, I can not hear on my phone. And I have a hearing problem.
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