A wristwatch-shaped device for deaf people that translates high-frequency noises into low-frequency vibrations, so it becomes possible to hear a doorbell, a ringing telephone, or someone shouting at you from a direction you're not looking into. (How does one tell---can one tell---a ring from a talking voice? Maybe regularity of a signal can make up for volume.)
-- jutta, Nov 24 1998

On Atmos http://www.webcom.c...urray/atmospic.html
Nice analog device. Can you convert a bell or buzzer to ring every, say, 3rd or 8th tone instead of persistently? [reensure, Nov 24 1998]

Hearing colours http://www.halfbake...a/Hearing_20colours
sight => sound [egnor, Nov 24 1998]

Not just useful for deaf people -- normal people could use it as a bat detector.
-- egnor, Mar 04 2000


Yes -- very easy to lower the frequency. Multiply the audio signal with another high frequency tone, you then get sum and difference tones. Difference tones will be low, down to zero. (This is how FM radio works.) Put the low frrequency signal into a transducer like a speaker or vibrating solenoid. Different sounds will have different amplitude envelopes as well as (lowered) frequencies, and will feel different.
-- rmutt, Mar 24 2000


If the device had a little computer in it, it could be trained to respond to the doorbell or telephone sound and "buzz" with an easy-to-learn pattern.
-- pitch, Jul 08 2000


I'm 86% deaf in my left ear. 85% in the right. Right has hearing aid, left does not. Would cost $6000.00 to upgrade to the recommended equipment in both ears. I have traditionally worn The Most Powerful Hearing Aid In The World [and yes, I do a spot on imitation of Dirty Harry saying that] and I won't mention that word has gotten back to me that DeNiro wants to see my imitation of him being Crucified had he worked with Scorcese in Last Temptation of Christ, Butt I digest. If you adjust equalization settings in Hearing Aids you do so to equalize the line. In otherwords, If you naturally hear this: /\/\/...You adjust the equalization somewhat opposite:\/\/\...To flatten the response curves. If you or a loved one suffers from degenerative hearing loss or nerve deafness as in my case since birth, go to an Audiologist. If someone you know wears an aid but is missing on some frequencies, hopefully the current hearing aid can be better equalized. The hearing test is painless and free. Just wish the hearing aids were, too.
-- thumbwax, Sep 22 2000



halfbakery