PRODUCT DESIGN

HEADPHONES

STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION

BRIEF HISTORYSTRUCTURE OF HEADPHONESTYPES OF HEADPHONESMATERIALS

CASE STUDYSURVEY

PRODUCT IMPROVISATIONPRODUCT SPECIFICATION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Phases of Development

1900’sIn the beginning there was Iron

The history of headphones began with the telephone. Sound was carried across the telephone lines in the form of electrical impulses, making the iron transducers move at the receiving end thus transmitting sound.

Leap 1 : Recognition of words.

Nathaniel Baldwin

1930’sThe Introduction of Stereo

In 1958, John Koss, an American, developed stereo headphones specifically for use with stereo recordings, they were a vast improvement over the old moving-iron headphones.

Leap 2 : Improvement in sound Quality

John Koss

1960’sProgress in the Sixties John Koss invested in refining

stereo headphones, moving the technology along to a microphone transducer and eventually to the first pair of electrostatic headphones.

Leap 3: Better audio playback

1980’sThe Walkman Changes Headphones in

the Eighties Sony developed the Walkman:

portable music device you could carry with you to listen to your favorite tunes. The enclosed circumaural design faded , to be replaced by a supra-aural design that sat lightly over the ears.

Leap 4: Size & weight of the Headphones reduced

1998Bluetooth

The prototypes of the short-range wireless technology in headphones were developed. Bluetooth, like other wireless technologies, are modeled on frequency hopping for secret communication, Challenge faced was difficulty in matching the sound quality of corded headphones.

Leap 5 : Wireless Technology

STRUCTURE OF HEADPHONES

EarpadFits against or encloses the wearer's ears. Earpad material (leather, foam, soft plastic, and so on) and hardness affects sound quality.

Bushing (Strain Relief)Prevents the cable from being bent at extreme angles, which may sever it.

CableCables come in various thicknesses and lengths to suit different listening needs.

PlugPlugs into the headphone jack of AV equipment or portable audio players. Comes in two main formats: standard (6.3mm) and mini-plug (3.5mm).

HeadbandHeadbands provide lateral pressure, which is essential for a good fit. Too tight, and headphones are uncomfortable; too loose, and headphones may slide off or even fall off.

SliderFor adjusting headband length. Sliders on Audio-Technica headphones can easily be resized to suit the shape of your head.

Headphone unit (Driver unit)The heart of sound production in headphones. Larger drivers can produce substantial bass.

BaffleBase components attached to headphone units, baffles are next to the earpads. These pieces prevent interference between sound waves emitted in the housing and waves emitted outside, from the front surface.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEADPHONES

CIRCUM-AURAL HEADPHONES

FEATURES Circular or ellipsoid earpads Completely surround the ear Fully seal external noise

DISADVANTAGES Can be heavy weighing over 500 grams

IMPROVEMENTS Good headband and earpad design to reduce

discomfort

SUPRA-AURAL HEADPHONES

• FEATURES Pads that sit on top of the ears-around them Smaller and more lightweight than circumaural Don't press on the sides of your head-they press upon the ears More comfortable for long listening session Adjustable strap that fits over Can be folded for storagae and come with carrying pouches

DISADVANTAGE Less attenuation of outside noise

IMPROVEMENT Using noise concealing mechanism

FEATURES OPEN BACK Allow sound out through the back of the earcup. Natural more accurate sound Less reflections than a closed back The best audiophile grade

DISADVANTAGE Not normally suitable for use in public places Lack of isolation from external noise

FEATURES CLOSED BACK Reduce the effect of external noise Semi air tight earcups that enclose the ear Ear cups reflect and resonate the sound made by the

headphone drivers.

OPEN & CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES

OPEN

CLOSED

WIRELESS HEADPHONES

FEATURES Use RF, infrared (IR), or Bluetooth wireless technologies. Battery-powered headset Transmit signals through walls and floors, so you don't

have to be near your sound system No restriction by cables No restrictions on your movement.

DISADVANTAGES Adds extra noise to the audio signal There is a noticeable difference in audio quality Detect a background hiss Subject to interference from other devices

ACTIVE & PASSIVE NOISE-REDUCTION HEADPHONES

Fit tightly over your ears or inside the ear canal will block some noise by

creating a seal. This is called passive noise reduction

These battery-powered headphones use tiny microphones to monitor noise frequencies, and then produce those same frequencies out of phase in an effort to cancel them.

Most effective noise reduction in models that combined passive noise blocking with active noise cancellation,

EAR CANAL HEADPHONES

FEATURES Inserted directly into the ear canal. Small rubberised ear-tip sleeve Small, lightweight and very portable.  Best quality sound Lack of distortion They isolate your ear from the outside world by upto minus

20dB

DISADVANTAGE Can hear any impact on the body as a dull thud inside their ear.  Occurs if the earphone lead is knocked. Sound isolating material over the tip is transmitting the sound

more directly to the ear drum. 

HEADPHONES– A Style Statement.

INNOVATIONS ???

MATERIALS

Early materials

•Rubber,•Leather •Copper •Technical ceramics

Nowdays

•Silicon,•Textiles•Sophisticated plastics •Artificial leather, rubber, •Vinyl and foam materials

Cables are generally made of 99.5% pure copper wire, but for more efficient signal transmission.

The cable sheath may be cloth-wrapped or constructed of highly elastic elastomer to help prevent tangling and reduce "touch noise" when the cable is touched.

Earbud Headphones Strong / Impermeable / Exactingly formed to high

tolerances Polyester (PET) or polycarbonate (PC).

Circumaural Headphones Include thermoplastic polyurethane, genuine leather,

foam-filled artificial leather, and one or more of three types of textile: velour,

velvet or plush.

Supra-Aural Headphones polyurethane material and faux leather filled with foam for

the parts closest to the ear Circumference slow-memory foam, artificial leather,

rubber and PVC (or vinyl).

Materials used depends mainly on the application of the headphones

CASE STUDY- PRODUCT MODIFICATION

RED STAR DESIGN AWARDS -GOLD AWARD WINNER

AIMHeadphone sales were falling far behind all our global competitors, not on poor technology but in the inferiority of its appearance and human interface

OBJECTIVE Adding valueDefining individuality Improving usabilityAppearance

STUDY AREASHow staff used their headphones What specific features they considered most beneficial

RESULT OF STUDYNo radical design shift was neededImproved areas like materials, construction, assembly, functionality of moving parts, style, finish, colour and storage.

FINAL PRODCT RESULTSNew product is 30%more expensiveBut twice as many orders as before

Consumer Feedback

• Type of survey: Through Google Spreadsheets

• Type of questions: 10 close ended

• 3 open ended

• Target community: Students Age group (18-23 yrs)

• Sample selection: Random sample selection

What kind of Headphone do you use?

88%

12%Cord-less

with Cord

<1 hr: 25%

1-2 hr: 50%

3-5 hr : 18%

5+hr : 7%

05

101520253035404550

Less than 1hour

Between 1to 2 Hours

Between 3to 5 hours

More than5 hours

Hours of use per day?

What different devices are you able to run with a single pair of Headphones?

laptops/computers

cell-phones

i-pods/mp3

music in-struments

38%

26%

30%

6%

Important Factors

Most Important

Important Less Important

Least Important

Price 33 % 26% 27 % 14 %

Comfort 40 % 28% 26 % 6 %

Style 6 % 8% 25 % 61%

Sound quality

20 % 38% 22% 20 %

How frequently do you change your Headphones?

9%

18%

20%

52%yearly

2 months

4 months

8 months

Are you satisfied by the sound quality of your Headphones?

62%

38%

No

Yes

Are you aware of any kind of health problems caused by prolonged use of Headphones?

49%

51%

No

Yes

How frequently is the mic used in the Headphone?

1

2

3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Not re-quired

Occa-sionally

Very useful

Is the Earpad noise concealing?

43%

57%

Yes

No

What are the Problems faced while using Headphones?

23%

14%

14%

9%

8%

6%

13%

13%

Half sound

Pressure marks on skin

Long cords

Breaking of wire

Rattling sound

Bluetooth not re-cognised

Sound leakage

Quite Heavy

Which shape of Earpads do you prefer?

50%

13%

37% CircularShape doesn't matter (should cover en-tire ear)

Ellipt-ical

Do you prefer Headphones over Earphones (in terms of sound quality)?

67%

33%

Yes No

Solving the problem

All in 1Reasonably pricedHigh qualityComfortableGive consumer unrestricted range of motionWater-resistantGerm free

Features

BluetoothSD memory card mp3 readerNoise concealingDetachable micJack kitExtendable cordSliding headbandSanitary earpad coverCompact and potable design

Some Rendered Views

Individual Components

Pin

Jack Kit + Charger

Rechargable Li Battery

Disposable Covers

Normal Use

Product

Bacterial freeNo Fungal growthMade up of thinfilm of PolyUthraneRecyclableUse and Throw

MATRIX ANALYSIS

Biblography

BOOKHEADPHONES Frederic P Miller, Agnes F Vandome, John McBrewster VDM Publishing House LtdLoudspeaker and headphone handbook - John Borwick ARTICLENEW HEADPHONES FOR EVERY HEAD BY Christopher Greenleafhttp://eu.audio-technica.com/en/headphone-guide/structure.asphttp://www.easychinasupply.com/product_list/95_324.htmlhttp://products.jimtrade.com/product_details.aspx?ProductId=74915&SupplierId=57993http://soundkontrols.com/v1/archives/549http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2740/does-wearing-headphones-increase-bacteria-in-the-earhttp://www.boseindia.com/retail/bose-product-detail.aspx?Prd_Id=101&Cat_Id=646&Nav_Id=646http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headphoneshttp://www.naaptol.com/buy/computers_-_peripherals/computer_accessories/headphones.html

Thank You

Ankur Jain Parneet virkRitesh JindalAakash kedia