bone conduction

Not very long ago, we discussed about a commercial product that allows listening to music with your bones, not eardrums using bone conduction technology. Furthering the scope of bone conduction, now AT&T is working on, and has currently readied a prototype demonstrating a Bio-Acoustic Data Transfer Technology that enables the user to unlock doors and mobiles by transferring digital keys through their bones. The users can also transfer contact information like a tiny business card, merely by shaking hands.

How Bio-Acoustic Data Transfer Technology works (with security perspective)

The user has to touch the piezo-electric transducer (it’s basically a Guitar pick-up) connected to the phone, which pushes out a digital key as vibration. This keyed vibration is transmitted through the user’s body (bones) which identifies the user and unlocks the door. The key is unique for every user and must match with the owner’s key specifications. Since each individual has a unique skeletal structure and bone density, the transmitted key unique for each. If the user is an intruder, the authentication will fail and the door will stay locked.

Via [At&t]

If you like listening to music on the go; whether you are an audiophile or not, this technology will pique your interest!

A new way of listening to music is available now, without having the need to stuff things in your ear. AfterShokz Headphones (using Bone Conduction Technology) deliver sound directly to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum. Bone conduction headphones were originally created for military use. But, now you can experience it too!

What makes these headphones different than the conventional ones?

When you are using regular headphones/ earphones, the sound waves travel via ‘air’ to finally reach your eardrums. Whereas, in case of headphones using Bone Conduction Technology, all sounds are delivered through your skull to the inner ear, without interference from air; not to mention the crystal clear accuracy that the headphones shall provide.

The main intent of creating this technology was clearly to allow the user to be able to communicate through media while still being able to hear what is going on around. The earphones in use today have major drawbacks – when the surroundings are too loud, the users have to pump up the volume; on and around-ear headphones are just ‘unwieldy’ and make the dork in you stand out; and the in-ear ones, though providing good quality, block the user from the outside world.

Watch the video talking about AfterShokz Headphones, from CES 2012,

Bone Conduction Technology

To those who find it hard to believe, try holding a watch between your teeth, the ticking is audible. A tuning fork held to your forehead will also do. Bone conduction simply is, passing of frequencies through the skull plates to the inner ear. A high frequency makes parts of the skull vibrate, so as to put it in layman’s terms. Correspondingly, low frequencies make the skull vibrate as a whole. From this, the inner ear can deduce the frequency being passed.

AfterShokz Headphones have been designed such that they press on the cheekbones and have good grip. And you do get to experience high fidelity and stereo quality sound. Normal earphones are irritating when used for long durations; the in-ear ones block air access to the ear canal, the other ones simply hurt since people tend to use them at high volumes. Joggers and active people have to keep adjusting them from falling away.

Drawbacks

Whether this technology has any drawbacks is not known. However, a skeptic may point that making a person’s skull vibrate all the time may be harmful in the long run.

Availability

Three models of AfterShokz Headphones are available: AfterShokz Sport Headphone, AfterShokz Mobile with In-Line Mic, and AfterShokz Game Headphone.

Authentication And Data Transmission Through Your Bones

AfterShokz Headphones: Listening To Music With Your Bones, Not Eardrums