A Survey on the Affordances of “Hearables”

Abstract

Recent developments pertaining to ear-mounted wearable computer interfaces (i.e., "hearables") offer a number of distinct affordances over other wearable devices in ambient and ubiquitous computing systems. This paper provides a survey of hearables and the possibilities that they offer as computer interfaces. Thereafter, these affordances are examined with respect to other wearable interfaces. Finally, several historical trends are noted within this domain, and multiple paths for future development are offered.

Acoustic Transparency and the Changing Soundscape of Auditory Mixed Reality

“…From Hearables [83,24] (ear-mounted wearable computer interfaces) to Earables [49,110] (augmented earbuds) to Intelligent Headsets [114], wearable personal audio is undergoing significant changes, now capable of head orientation tracking, physiological sensing, contextual awareness, etc. [47,72,48].…”

“…Though acoustic isolation is not necessarily a desirable trait: we impair our ability to hear ourselves It is however becoming increasingly evident that mobile consumer audio may be on the precipice of significant changes in form, function and capability. Headphones, Hearables [83,24] and Earables [49,110] capable of intermixing virtual audio with the sounds of reality are typically referred to as being acoustically transparent, with research such as Nomadic Radio [91] first exploring this concept through the use of wearable directional speakers. Consumer audio has rapidly begun to catch up with these research visions.…”

“…Auditory Headset A Hearable[83,24] / Earable[49,110] with orientation/position/location-based tracking, with content capable of being registered in 3D/rendered egocentrically (i.e. spatialized) and exocentrically (i.e.…”

Rethinking Assistive Technologies: Users, Environments, Digital Media, and App-Practices of Hearing

“…Media sociologist David Beer proposes a closer look at the material experiences and dimension of attachment, suggesting to "think about mobile media as objects that are intimately incorporated into routine bodily practices" and explore the "material attachments to the mobile media themselves, the devices, as they are used to generate and negotiate cogito" [50: p. 362, [51]. The instrumental power of the object, according to Sherry Turkle, thus becomes less important compared to an understanding of the "affordances" [7,22,52] of an "evocative object" as a "companion in life experience" [41: p. 66]. When we hear (and speak) through digital devices, we also live in them, "[we] live our lives in the middle of things" [41: p. 6].…”

Augmenting TV Viewing using Acoustically Transparent Auditory Headsets

“…Acoustically transparent Auditory Headsets [31] are auditory wearables that have the capability to, either actively or passively, intermix both real and virtual sounds, "not caus[ing] audible modification to the surrounding sound" [46]. Where Nomadic Radio [54] first explored this concept through wearable directional speakers, now we have a variety of circum-and supra-aural (on the ear) Hearables [8,45] and Earables [25,69] reaching consumer hands. Bone conductance headphones led the way in this regard, however their limited fidelity [67] inhibited uptake.…”