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Hacked hearing aids produce stellar ambient tunes from WiFi signals
What if we could hear the numerous invisible data frequencies that swirl around us every day? That's exactly what a project from hearing-impaired writer Frank Swain and artist Daniel Jones aims to do. Phantom Terrains is the proper name of the effort, and by hacking Swain's Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids, the duo has transformed WiFi signals into ambient sounds. So instead of seeing the device as a prosthetic, it's used as a sort of super power. The modification allows him to stroll around and listen to the range of tones electromagnetic signals provide -- like the pattern of a network's security parameters. And of course, no one else nearby can pick them up.
Daily iPhone App: SoundMeter+ monitors your environment for hearing damaging noise
Most people don't think about their background noise levels, but those who work or live in noisy environments need to be aware of sounds that could ruin their hearing. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can monitor your ambient noise levels using the new SoundMeter+ application. SoundMeter+ uses the iPhone's internal microphone to measure the surrounding noise and calculate the dBA of your surroundings. You can also change the meter to measure dBC, dBB, dBD and dBZ. These different measurements take into account the different frequencies of sound. For example, the A-weighting (dBA) emphasizes those frequencies that the human ear can hear, while the B-weighting (dBB) takes into account lower frequencies and is used to measure entertainment noise. The app shows a variety of information about your ambient sound levels. It displays a digital meter that gives you the exact dBA measurements and a graphical meter that shows how the noise fluctuates. It also keeps track of the max and min noise levels recorded by the app and the hold time for each one (i.e., how long each one lasted). SoundMeter+ not only measures the live sound levels, it also analyzes your ambient noise over time. This information is then used to calculate the Time Weighted Average (TWA), which measures the different noise levels that a person is subjected to throughout a normal working day. This figure is most commonly used by OSHA to assess a worker's exposure to hearing-damaging sounds. There's a lot of information packed into a very affordable US$1.99 app. My only quibble with the app is that it is not optimized for the iPhone 5. As a result, the meter only occupies two-thirds of the screen and the help file has too many blank spaces. Disclaimer: I did not test the SoundMeter+ app against a noise dosimeter or any other professional sound-measuring equipment. I only compared SoundMeter+'s measured sound levels to known levels, and the app was accurate with its measurements. Also, the app only calculates the background noise so you can become more aware of situations that require some form of hearing protection. It is not meant to be used in the diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. It's also not meant to be used as legal evidence in workplace safety disputes.
AIRbudz: A safer way to listen to your tunes
While the world seems to be beating a path to the door of manufacturers of noise-canceling earphones, inventor Tammy Erdel has a much better idea that could save some lives. AIRbudz replace the removable earbuds on your favorite set of earphones and allow the sound around you to mix with the tunes you're listening to. You probably don't want to use the AIRbudz in the comfort of your home, but they're designed to work when you're outside cycling, walking, skateboarding, or otherwise in a situation where you need to be aware of what's around you. I personally love this idea. I don't know how many times I've been cycling or walking and seen other people who are exercising with earbuds jammed into their ears. They're usually oblivious to anyone who is trying to get their attention, and more than once I've startled someone by passing them after I've tried unsuccessfully to warn them two or three times. Erdel is trying to raise $22,000 for her Kickstarter project, and has only raised $3,385 with 21 days to go. For a $10 pledge on Kickstarter, you can support the project and get yourself a set of 9 AIRbudz (3 sets of each size -- small, medium, and large) in your own choice of colors. I think the glow in the dark version is my personal favorite. Check out Erdel's pitch video below for the full story.
Acoustic Poetry concept turns ambient noise into verse
Modern society invests a lot of time and money attempting to drown out our surroundings, but the inability to hear ambient noise can rob one of a sense of place, which can be a very real concern amongst the deaf community. The Acoustic Poetry concept device from British designer Michail Vanis won't miraculously cure the deaf, but it does promise to keep them a bit more in touch. The wooden box is used to capture sound and transmit it to an interpreter, who listens and translates it into text, coming out like something of a free form haiku. It's a communication relay not entirely unlike ones we've seen from a number of other companies, and one that doesn't really necessitate its own stand-alone device. Still, it's nice to see text messaging that can actually keep people more in-touch with their surroundings, for a change -- we still don't recommend using it while driving, however. Video after the break. [Thanks, Ro]
Yamaha VSP-1 ambient noise generator shields your voice, water cooler gossips
It isn't hard to picture the scenarios -- banks, hospitals, pharmacies, etc. -- where you need to spill out some private (and probably embarrassing) details in public, but on the other hand, it's no good whispering in a noisy environment. The solution? Yamaha thinks adding more noise is the way forward. Announced earlier this month is the VSP-1 noise generator, which is essentially just a speaker box that masks conversations in your desired direction. With its eight specially tuned ambient noise recordings from the seaside, forest, or river, the VSP-1 managed to mask between 47 percent and 89 percent of the conversations in four Japanese pharmacies, and the customers on the other side of the sound wall even enjoyed the soothing sounds. Alas, Yamaha's little box doesn't come cheap -- you'll have to cough up a hefty ¥105,000 ($1,267) for one when it comes out on April 20th.
