Benefits of bone conduction and Bone conduction headphones

Headphones have been wrapping our ears for almost a century, gradually evolving from niche product to a mass -market. Headphones originated from the earpiece and were the only way to listen to electrical audio signals before amplifiers were developed. The first truly successful set was developed by Nathaniel Baldwin, who made them by hand in his kitchen and sold them to the US Navy.

There are many headphone brands you could probably name them, such as Sennheiser, Bose, Sony, etc.  There is also no shortage of headphone designs-ear buds, canal buds, lightweight headphones, and full-sized headphones, wireless headphones, wired headphones. Many of us have tried most.

Today this article is going to talk about the benefits of a headphone design you maybe haven’t tried before–bone conduction.

What is Bone Conduction technology?

Bone conduction technology has been around for many years as a tool to help those with hearing loss. Google Glass adopted this technology as well. It has recently been re-purposed for headphones in the early 2000s.

Bone conduction allows you to hear sound through the vibration of the bones of your face. This means the sound waves are bypassing the outer and middle ear and directly stimulating the inner ear. You’re hearing the same way you’re able to hear your voice when you plug your own ears. So you can listen to a song and sing it.

Here are some major industries that have benefited from bone conduction technology.

1, Hearing aids users. Since 1977  over 100,000 hearing loss patients have been fitted with bone conduction known as Bone Anchored Hearing Aid).

2, Military communication. The military was one of the early adopters of bone conduction technology, implementing behind-the-ear style headsets for communication on the battlefield.   This was a significant improvement to field communication because it allowed the users to retain full awareness of ambient sounds while also enabling the ability to transmit wireless through bone conduction.

3, Sports headphones.

Bone conduction headphones have become increasingly popular in the music industry. What has been incorporated into the hearing health care industry for many years and now is being utilized in the music media industry as a different way to listen.  

So what benefits do bone conduction headphones offer?

1 Increased situation Awareness

Immersing yourself in the latest playlist or compelling audiobook is a great escape when walking, running, cycling or playing golf, but it’s a habit that greatly increases the risk of an accident; closing yourself off to the outside world also closes you off to trains, horns, and hollers.

With bone conduction headphones, there are no speakers going over or into your ears, depleting your senses. Instead, the transducers sit on your cheekbones directly in front of your ears, leaving your ears completely open to your surroundings.

If you’re out for a jog, you can hear another jogger approaching behind you. If you’re cycling around town, you can hear a car behind you, so you can keep a safe distance to avoid an accident.  If you are outside for exploring, you can listen to what you want while enjoying the beautiful world.  If you are staying in bed, you still can hear your doorbell is ringing and answer it.

2 More Comfortable Fit

Do your earbuds fall out? Do your ear canals hurt? Are full-size headphones too heavy for your morning run? Are speakers getting all up in your earrings’ business?  When you eat food your earbuds will fall out and your ear will get uncomfortable?

Let’s face it – most headphones don’t get their reputation for being comfortable. Few things are more annoying than running on a treadmill with your right earbud dangling by the wire because you’re actually working up a sweat and the darn things won’t stay in. 

Bone conduction headphones do away with the drama by leaving your ears out of the equation. For many individuals, it’s a whole lot more comfortable.  

3 A Unique Listening Experience

Unlike other normal headphones, when you put a pair of headphone into your ears, you cannot hear very well what you are talking or singing,  the bone conduction allows you to enjoy your favorite tunes and you can sing them, you will know whether you sing good or not with the bone conduction headphones, which gives you a unique listening experience.

4, It will fit your ears very well if your ears are too small to wear earbuds.

Sometimes we heard some people said that their ears are too small to fit earbuds. In such a situation, you can choose the bone conduction headphones,  which can sit behind your ears and is suitable for your ears.