What's next for headphones?

Innovations
Sketches by Bradley Patrick
Written by Brennan Akins
Ideas by whole group

Over the years, headphones have seen many innovations, from the Bluetooth device to speakers in the headphones to reduce the noise coming out of them. Even now, Sony has a patent for something entirely new; a body wiring signal, allowing for wireless response by using the human body to transmit electrical signals and eliminating the need for interference-filled signals.

As a group we believe that the next major step for headphones is a visual component, allowing images to accompany the audio created by the headphones.



In the form of the Google Glasses, image technology is beginning to move towards the same route that headphones were originaly created to fill, and we believe that the two paths will converge sometime in the new future.

Headphone advertisement & marketing

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Shayna Mell

J. Kraft

Group Project 7/22/2012

Nathaniel Baldwin was a tinkerer who wanted to sell the headphones he had cobbled together. The only group that had both money and interest was the military. He found the right target audience and sold the Navy his first order of one hundred headphones. In the 1930s, Beyerdynamic advertised some of the first headphones designed commercial use.

Koss headphones marketing played to the appeal of stereo listening. Since the Beatles were insanely popular in the 1960’s, Koss invented “Koss Beatlephones” which were a huge hit because it was a midline headphone embellished with a Beatles sticker. Other celebrity endorsement was essential to Koss’s marketing strategy. An early support, Tony Bennett endorsed this product along with Mel Torme and Buddy Hackett. The marketing genius here was to associate the product to already popular individuals and musicians.

Before 1979, people were anchored to their stereo systems in their house and car—but what if they wanted to move around? In 1979, Walkman advertised the advantage of their product as being portable and private.

As the leader of personal music player market, Apple offered innovation in the in-ear headphones market. Apple enjoyed a 70 percent market share based on their best-selling line of iPods and, more recently, the iPhone. “The popularity of these Apple devices is no secret. Each of Apple’s products come paired with the standard Apple’s iconic white in-ear headphones” (Kuang).There is a certain simplicity to the headphones, and functionality drives the design and artistry of the product. These headphones are marketed on a principle of friendliness, empathy and focus for the producer-consumer relationship.

Beats by Dr.Dre were a high definition powered isolation headphones, marketing a redefined lowly headphone for 300$. Dr. Dre advertised to the masses. Celebrities created a buzz like Keri Hilson, Joe Jonas, Kate Voegele, David Arquette, and Diddy, who all support Beats. This idea of celebrity endorsement had also worked for Koss.

Works Cited

Kuang, Cliff. "The 6 Pillars Of Steve Jobs's Design Philosophy." Co.Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2012. <http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665375/the-6-pillars-of-steve-jobss-design-philosophy>.

"Listen Closely." : A History of Headphones. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 July 2012. <http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/08/20_headphones.html>.

Martin, Andrew J. "Headphones With Swagger (and Lots of Bass)." The New York Times. The New York Times, 20 Nov. 2011. Web. 18 July 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/business/beats-headphones-expand-dr-dres-business-world.html?pagewanted=all>.

Highlights

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST 50 YEARS

Brennan Akins

In 1958, the first stereo headphones were created by Koss; due to their easy transportability they instantly became popular among musicians as well as listeners, with other companies quickly copying the Koss design.

In 1976, Beyer developed the first electrostatic headphones—headphones that didn't create sound through contact and created a cleaner sound.

In 1979, Sony developed the Walkman, creating a much smaller and portable design to complement their new portable audio device.

In 1989, Bose developed noise cancelling headphones for pilots in airplanes, which were later made available for commercial use.

In 1998, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group released some prototypes of short-range wireless technology used in Bluetooth headpieces today.

In 2001, Apple released their iPod & the iconic earbuds—small headphones designed to fit inside the ear without a strap.

In 2006, Sony applied for a patent for body-wired headphones, which used the body to transmit headphone signals—a wireless system without interference from signals.

Resources

Random History | A History of Headphones, 2012. Viewed 7/19/2012. http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/08/20_headphones.html.

Bose | About Bose - Milestones, 2012. Viewed 7/20/2012.
http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_STATIC_PAGE_EVENT&url=/about/milestones/index.jsp.

Beyer Dynamic | Once & Today, 2012. Viewed 7/20/2012.
http://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/company/once-today.html

Historical Influences

Carolyn Ready

History of Modern Design

Ms. J. Kraft

Group Project 7/22/12

Head phones were primarily used as amplifiers for telephones and radios for pilots and radio stations.  The growth of automation in 1960 demanded  faster communication began the mass communication boost towards technological advancements in communications.   The original headphone design was big and bulky with very limited use. (2) In the 70’s, Sony introduced the walkman, a portable tape player.  (3) The industry exploded designing accessories for personal stereos, like headphones.  These accessories became an important component of the latest generation of electronics, like cell phones, TVs, computers, home theaters, CD players, and more.(2)   As a result of the increased technological and cultural sophistication a new generation of consumers emerged heavily influenced by mass media called Popular Culture.“Pop Culture” is the lifestyle of a majority of younger people who are mainstream in the current or popular trends such as in music, videos, games, internet and social networks. (4) The growth in technology increased the ways consumers and products link together, a decade ago e-commerce was non existence now it’s at the click of a mouse.   Technology directly impacts culture, it allows widespread access and interaction.  (Howitt) 

 References: 

(1) Bernie Howitt. Understanding popular culture. Society and Culture Association. <http://scansw.com/au/sc pages/sc popular/sc howitt>.

(2) Earphone Solutions.  <http://earphonesolutions.com>.

(3) Random History. <http://randomhistory.com>.

(4) What is popular culture. <http://whatispopularculture.com>.

(5) Wiley Online Library. Sheri R. Levy. Ed. JournalCitation Reports:2011:5/37, <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/10.11>.

Inventnion of the headphones

Invention of the Headphones – by Bradley Patrick

 

Headphones play an important part in the day-to-day life of the population. Either while waiting to go to work on the subway and listening to music or while talking to a client on a phone. More and more people use headphones daily.

Headphones were invented before traditional speakers were. They were invented by Nathaniel Baldwin (1878-1961) in 1910. Nathaniel Baldwin was always building as a child. He built his own bicycle and steam engine. When he got older Nathaniel went to Stanford University and earned a degree in electrical engineering. He then went on to teach theology and physics at Brigham Young University.

Nathaniel Baldwin was fundamentalist Mormon. He was going to church and was having trouble hearing the speakers while sitting far away in the back. This led him to work in his kitchen one night. He sat down and began tampering with coil and different parts. Finally, by using a compressed air amplifier, he then connected two sound receivers for each ear and thus the first pair of headphones was invented. Nathaniel then tried to sell his new invention and it was going nowhere fast. Then the United States Navy heard of the invention Nathaniel had created and knew they would be able to use it in the upcoming Would War. Nathaniel sold 100 pairs of his headphones to the Navy and with that money he started his company, The Baldwin Radio Company. Here he worked on improving his invention and produced more products relating to radio and amplifiers.

Work Citied

Brompton.co.uk (2012) Nathaniel Baldwin: A Sound Man | Brampton Bicycle. [online] Available at: http://www.brompton.co.uk/education/page.asp?p=6815 [Accessed: 20 Jul 2012].

Earphonesolutions.com (1919) A Look at Headphones through Time. [online] Available at: http://www.earphonesolutions.com/loathethti.html [Accessed: 20 Jul 2012].

Hefferan, VirginiaNytimes.com (2011) The Argument Against Headphones - NYTimes.com. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/magazine/09FOB-medium-t.html [Accessed: 20 Jul 2012].