Varibel glasses sport eight conversation-enhancing mics

Any gadget that enhances two of your senses at once is worth at least a mention in these pages, so we hereby present you with the not-completely-unattractive-looking Varibel hearing aid eyeglasses. The manufacturers would take issue with calling it a hearing aid, however, as regular in-ear models pick up conversations as well as ambient noise, while the four mics on each arm of Varibel's glasses supposedly separate the two types of sound, enhancing the former while dampening the latter. Developed by the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, these devices will initially be limited to a Dutch release, but because of Varibel's partnership with Phillips and Frame Holland, they may end up seeing a wider release. Integrate these with a pair of those bifocal-eliminating LCD glasses, and you've got something that actually makes us look forward to old age (well, kinda). [Warning: foreign language link, may be confusing to some.]

[Via Roland Piquepaille]

[lillygray @ Apr 9th 2006 7:50PM]

Wouldn't you know it? As soon as the boomers start turning 65, they make shortsightedness and hearing loss suddenly very cool. This could have the same affect as the colorful braces do at junior high - everyone wants braces because they look so cool now. Maybe this device will help the self-conscious, hard of hearing folks make a committment. Curiosity may outweigh shame. The markting info implies that it does a better job distinguishing between sounds. If so, that is a great step forward. I don't have any idea what a bifocal eliminating LCD glasses are, but if they make it easier for the consumer to use, then I am all for it. Have you ever seen someone with bifocals try to use the computer? It is a sad sight. Either the glasses go on and off or the head is bobbing up and down enough to give the user whiplash. Looking forward to seeing if the new technology delivers. All we need now is a gorgeous model to show it off, and it could be the next best thing for the senior set.

[mr joe @ Apr 9th 2006 9:17PM]

neat...do they shoot lasers too?

[Deluxe @ Apr 10th 2006 12:46AM]

Interesting. I agree with the first post, it's a good step and an interesting take on things.

Shad, stop spamming your URL. Sit it where it's supposed to be "Your site�s URL (optional):".

[LapTop @ Apr 10th 2006 2:56AM]

The bifocals are cheaper, the bifocals are ligheter, and the bifocals won't malfunction as it is not electric...why on earth would anyone use these...

[Resort @ Apr 10th 2006 3:02AM]

As someone in their 40's (46) who's been wearing bifocal glasses for the last 2 years, it would be nice at some point to have this as an option. Most of the time I need far away lenses, but as a repair technician, when I'm working on something, I need the "up close" lens. I'm always lifting my head up or down to get the close up part of the lens where I need it. To push a button and have the entire lens set as a close up lens would be really nice!
LOL, but I'll wait until they have it perfected a couple of years...I don't want a lcd lens and battery pack hanging off my glasses. I look geeky enough with a bluetooth headset ;)

[MaxCage @ Apr 10th 2006 7:37AM]

Well, I don't think the manufactures took 'trendy-ness' that seriously. The design is mediocre, just like yet another Dell. Well, improvement on the design. Enhancement on the Audio Aids with Bluetooth-mobile compatibility and FM reciever would be ultra-cool. Atleast for now. Innovation, is what we need. Not daddy's old sneaks or grandpa's burmese teak walking stick!

[Dee Kupe @ Apr 10th 2006 8:40AM]

Technology applied to BCGs (birth-control glasses). The trick will be developing an auditory device that cracks the 4-microphone sound suppression and fills the wearer's ears with subliminal messages.

[Carlos @ Apr 10th 2006 12:35PM]

Do they have x-ray vision?
Useless and expensive.

http://resumengadget.com

[Todd @ Apr 10th 2006 3:27PM]

I have problems hearing conversation. So my actual hearing loss is slight in one ear, but the imabalance causes an impairment.
The audiologist said that a hearing aid would only make the garbled conversations louder. So I can hear muck in 5.1 surround instead of mono?
Maybe this is the answer then.
But they had better get someone from Frog Design or Oakley to come up with something better than the classic RPG (Rape Prevention Glasses).

[Dr. AgoniZe @ Apr 11th 2006 10:58AM]

"If electrical power is suddenly lost, the lens reverts to a configuration with no focusing power, which makes it safe for use while driving, the researchers said."

[Jensen Hearing @ May 27th 2006 12:44AM]

These have been around but Varibel makes it digital.

The main problem is we like to take off our glasses so that our eyes can rest. But with this device, it takes off your hearing too. So you lose 2 senses (vision and hearing) instead of one when you take them off. Think about it. Why didn't the previous eyeglass hearing aids catch on? Think about it

[Duc Huu Ho @ Mar 18th 2008 7:35PM]

Hi,
This is Duc.
I h've been in US
I need the varibel hearing eyeglasses.
Please tell me how I can buy it and cost.
Thank you.

[vids @ Mar 26th 2008 8:00AM]

Thanks, Evan, for this post