Waterproof MP3 Player Uses Bone Conduction

An anonymous reader writes "Aquatic training product manufacturer Finis has just released a waterproof digital music portable for swimmers and surfers that claims to solve a problem with such devices in the water. Regular earphones don't work well because they need an uninterrupted air channel to function. What makes the SwiMP3 unique is that it uses bone conduction to stimulate the inner ear and deliver sound."

Re:The only painful bit.

[Beyond_GoodandEvil]

Wouldn't a better spot be behind the ear or somewhere along the jaw line?

Re:Not new

[cyberlotnet]

It's a new use of technologies
It a mp3 player viable where it never was before
It doesnt invovle implanting
So while it may not be "new tech" it is "New and innovating use of that tech in an area it has never been used before"
Next thing you know your going to say parents shouldn't get excited about having a baby because millions of people have them every day, its just another lifeform in the world nothing else.

Re:Why bother?

[jstave]

I'm missing something here. Is someone being forced to do this? I used to work next to a guy who would play his music so loud that I could hear his earphones from the next cube over. I'd have loved it if he used bone conduction so that I could work in silence.

Re:Why not?

[pomakis]

Some acoustic physicist please explain to me: Why wouldn't earphones work better underwater? AFAIK sound is propagated through compression waves, so it should work fine underwater as the density is greater. Am I missing something?

I'm guessing that they would work better underwater if there was an uninturrupted water channel. But I'm guessing the problem is that when you go swimming, especially if you're wearing earphones or earbuds, there's bound to be a lot of trapped air in your ears along with the water that gets in. It's probably that composite environment that causes the problem.

Re:Why bother?

[TheFlyingGoat]

Most of us have a choice whether or not we want music on at work. At home you have the ability to turn your TV or radio off. In the car you can easily turn off your stereo. You have the choice whether or not you want to listen to music in the pool.

And many of us don't listen to "mindless music"... many listen to classical, jazz, or even audio books (I'd love to get through an extra book a week during my swimming time).

I sure hope you were trolling, cause otherwise you need to think about things a little more before you write them.

Alarm Clock?

[Anonymous Coward]

I would love to see this technology used for some sort of alarm clock. There've been many times when I've had to try and catch a few winks in a very noisy environment. I've considered ear plugs but never tried it because I wasn't sure if the alarm would still wake me up. This would allow you to wear ear plugs to sleep and still hear an alarm to wake you up.

Re:Why bother?

[reedmon29]

Music has a sort of "soothing" effect I guess. I work best when I'm listening to my favorite genres. It may be mindless noise, but it helps me, and it releives boredom.

I don't swim, but I can't see swimming for 4 hours straight, lap by lap, to be extremely exciting.

And what do you mean you "can't even go swimming without having your mp3 collection zapped into your inner ear"? I still do. I go to classes without music. Listening to music for me at least is a choice.

Re:The only painful bit.

[EvilTwinSkippy]

The problem isn't how to pipe data directly to the brain. Hell, an electrode will do that just fine. The real technological feat will be delivering a signal to that part of the brain that can actually do something with it.

Until then, we will have to be satisfied with tricking the senses.

Re:Still not new

[jdray]

I would hope it would be good for surf-zone kayaking [pdx.edu], too. Generally, people out kayaking don't want to be bothered with music, but communication is a huge issue. Those "waterproof" FRS radios don't work past your first wet exit, which is when you need them most.