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One Way Headphones

Get it right ....
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A pair of headphones with a sensor mechanism in the cup that detects the position of the ear of the wearer. If you put them on the "wrong way round", the sound is automatically cut off.

That's it.

8th of 7, Oct 04 2009

Beyerdynamic head tracking headphones http://north-americ...adzone-home-ht.html
One of several [csea, Dec 11 2010]

Other kind of nose detector http://science.nasa...a/2004/06oct_enose/
ha-ha [csea, Dec 12 2010]

Over The Ear Headphones. http://www.gamechoi.../nds_phone_hori.gif
This type of headphones prevents you from using them in the wrong side [appdirect, Dec 13 2010]

[link]






       Uhm..., too sensible?
blissmiss, Oct 04 2009
  

       Oooh, good idea, [IT].
8th of 7, Oct 04 2009
  

       I know that records get mastered so that they come out through one side of a stereo or t'other, but surely when you've got headphones on it doesn't really matter, it isn't as though you're going to miss some subtle nuance of the music, you've got it being played directly into your skull.
kaz, Oct 04 2009
  

       They should label left with an L and right with an R ;)
Your_Name_Here, Oct 04 2009
  

       The problem arises when a movie with a stereo soundtrack is watched with "reversed" stereo ..... a sound may "track" left-to-right whereas the image may track right to left; or two performers amy be stage left and satge right, but their voices may be coming from the "wrong" side.
8th of 7, Oct 04 2009
  

       [8th] Well then surely your television should just flip the image horizontally?
hippo, Oct 05 2009
  

       //the sound is automatically cut off// You don't think that automatically swapping the channels might be less irritating for the end user?
pocmloc, Oct 05 2009
  

       //a sensor mechanism in the cup that detects the position of the ear of the wearer.//   

       And this sensor works how, exactly? (And, for that matter, how exactly?)
MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 11 2010
  

       It uses like, science 'n stuff, cmon. Let the eggheads figure out the details.
doctorremulac3, Dec 11 2010
  

       It uses a scanning infrared laser diode array and a photodiode receiver to generate a low resolution image of the pinna, which it then compares with a library of stored images and via averaging techniques decides which side is which.
8th of 7, Dec 11 2010
  

       We am those eggheads.   

       Seriously, working out left and right is a non-trivial problem. It's going to need a nose-detector.
MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 11 2010
  

       I'd just mark 'em left and right and call it a day.
doctorremulac3, Dec 11 2010
  

       What about people who are born with backwards-facing ears? I'd say this idea qualifies as discrimination against that particular group.
DrWorm, Dec 11 2010
  

       ... and therefore should be supported completely.
doctorremulac3, Dec 11 2010
  

       There has been some development of home audio head tracking systems which allow headphone soundfields to follow user head motions. See [link] for example.
csea, Dec 11 2010
  

       //It's going to need a nose-detector//   

       Should be simple to detect excess COv2 from the nose except in high winds. [link]   

       If you're concerned about sound/picture synch, the display could emit an inrared signal to either alert you to reversed headphones, or make the switch electronically.
csea, Dec 12 2010
  

       //It's going to need a nose-detector//
... and remember, men! Wear your Moriarty nose-detectors!
mouseposture, Dec 12 2010
  

       Good idea [+]. Can it extend to other things like cutlery or shoes? When very, very drunk that would be handy. Though it might encorage walking which might not be a good idea.
saedi, Dec 12 2010
  

       // Wear your Moriarty nose-detectors! //   

       ... but only if you're travelling by Leather Omnibus.
8th of 7, Dec 12 2010
  
      
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