It looks like golfers may have more to worry about than bad backs and jacked-up knees. Apparently, swinging those new fangled fancy titanium drivers may lead to hearing loss.
The Songbird Flexfit is a US$80 disposable hearing aid, the first of its kind, and it was developed by the Sarnoff Corporation, the same company behind HDTV. It’s a one-size-fits-all behind-the-ear device for people with mild to moderate hearing loss who aren’t ready to plunk down thousands of dollars on a typical hearing aid. As you can tell from the picture, the Flexfit is also pretty discreet—I had to stare straight at this guy’s ear to see it. The batteries last 400 hours, which we’re told is about 3-6 months of use. Look for it in August, more pics down below. [Songbird]
It sounds obvious, but for the first time, over-the-air HD Radio can carry talk radio with closed-captioned metadata, so that the hearing impaired can enjoy the same talk radio programming that others can.
From what I can tell, the signal will be compatible with many recent HD Radio receivers, so you don’t need a special box. The Kenwood in the picture is a proof-of-concept; the actual first-ever closed-captioned broadcast will take place on Wednesday. Leave it to the progressives at NPR to come up with it, teaming with Harris Corporation and Towson University to develop the delivery mechanism and user interface. Of course, if it takes off, deaf right-wingers will finally get their fix of conservative hate talk, too.
As if we weren’t sick and tired enough of the whole diamond-encrusted solid gold bling craze that’s going on right now, this Widex diamond-encrusted solid 24-carat gold hearing aid beats all, giving new meaning to the term “golden ears.” You know, we don’t even like to use the word “bling.” Shit, now we’ve used it again. Anyway, apparently the proprietors of such a product optimistically hope that hearing-impaired people can be deaf and literally dumb, too.
Look at it, festooned with 220 diamonds to be worn by pathetic, cash-soaked and deaf fops with more money than brains. All that’s left is to quote the price that some damnfool sucker will pay for this over-the-top golden hearing aid and its controller. It’s £25,000, or $49,590 if there are any Americans stupid enough to bite. Please, no. Don’t. [PC News]
Since we last told you about Phonak hearing aids a year and a half ago, the Swiss company’s made strides to further advance the devices’ compact form factor and high-fidelity sound. The new Audéo Personal Communication Assistant (PCA) is available in two different styles and 15 color combinations. It’s discreetly tucked behind the ear and plugged into the ear canal with a transparent material that’s nearly invisible.
You got this thing wedged in your ear because otherwise you can’t hear what the damn whippersnappers are all yappin’ about. Then along comes this other earpiece you’re supposed to jam in your ear, so that you can talk on your cellphone while driving or juggling or whatever the kids are doing these days. Along comes some German designer who says, why not use the same contraption for both purposes? Figures.
