[Dixie Flatline]

http://www.swiminfo.com/lane9/news/8316.asp
(updated to a link that has an actual picture)

I've heard lots about bone-conduction audio on a theoretical basis, but this is the first consumer product I remember seeing that actually uses it. So are we all going to be ditching our headphones for bonephones in a few years, or is it just a neat trick for specialized situations (like underwater use)?

And has anyone here actually heard this or something like it?

 

[bhd812]

i will try them out next year in my jacuzzi....lol

 

[KR...]

oh geez, didn't they have these things in the early 1980's and perhaps even the 1970's?

 

[pedxing]

Bone conduction headphones have been around for a long time. They seem to have an advantage over normal headphones in noisy environments or with people who have hearing problems. I don't think they have the fidelity of normal headphones

 

[archosman]

Special Ops in the military have been using them for quite awhile. I used to have a sample of what it sounded like. As I remember you could hear the voice clearly but that was about it.

 

[bLue_oNioN]

They actually sell bone-conductor earpieces that look like IEMs on line -- you can check it out here

They don't just stop there though!

Quote:

Originally Posted by National Defence Magazine In ACIN Phase I, engineers demonstrated a wireless “tooth mike” for clear, hands-free communications in high-noise environments. Clipped to the user’s premolar, the intra-oral bone conduction microphone reduced the 110 dB(a) background noise of an M1A1 tank by 30 to 40 dB(a) to transmit clear speech for other soldiers or automatic speech recognition systems.

Really interesting stuff!