Resonance:: Hearing aid concept for one of the largest providers of hearing instruments and audiological instrumentation. The design addresses concerns such as issues with locating and opening the battery compartment, placement and sizes of buttons, and identification of left and right earpieces. The result is a minimal design that lets the user to easily operate the device with clarity and ease.
Resonance:: Research was conducted by interviewing individuals with hearing loss, with an age range of 32-94 years old, that either own or do not own a hearing instrument. Information gathered included types of hearing aids used, usage information, activities and situations where hearing aids were helpful or annoying, maintenance processes and the perceptions of wearing a hearing aid.
Currently, most hearing aids that dominate the market are non-rechargeable behind-the-ear style, commonly referred to as BTE, as the rechargeable ones are still relatively rare and far too expensive for most to afford. A non-rechargeable BTE hearing aid requires users to constantly replace the battery by "picking" the battery door open with a finger, which can be problematic amongst the elderly users. With that in mind, the decision was made to rethink the way the battery compartment is designed.
Resonance:: Using a hinge similar to those typically found in clamshell phones, the battery door “snaps” into place when opening or closing, with the battery placed in a cradle to prevent accidental dropping. The door would have an embedded magnetic strip for a secure closure. Inside the compartment, the battery would be placed flat to allow easier removal/placement with a battery magnet. The side of the door has raised “bumps” to indicate where the fingers would grip the door to open.
The hearing aid industry uses the colors blue and red to identify left and right earpieces, respectively. However, on most BTEs the color indicators are typically very small and are located on the inside of the body, making it hard and frustrating to identify which is what. Here, the color indicator is incorporated onto the program change button. Enlarged and shifted to the side of the hearing aid body, this allows the user to quickly identify the left and right earpieces, at the same time making it easier for the user to change program settings by lightly tapping the ear. This also allows the volume buttons on the back to be larger in size, again making it easier for the user to access the controls.
Resonance incorporates a silicone rubber material on the surface where the skin makes contact with the earpiece. This provides a more comfortable feel for the user, which at the same time, also acts as a left/right earpiece indicator.
Resonance:: Color variations.