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Diving Helmet-Like 'Social Sphere' Saves You From Drowning in Sound

by Terrence O'Brien on May 13, 2010 at 08:10 AM

Social Spheres
We're sure that you've all found yourselves in a crowded noisy bar at some point, struggling to hold a conversation with the person sitting next to you. Scottish design student Elaine McLuskey was studying hearing impairments when she discovered during her research that, sometimes, a person's environment can more detrimentally affect hearing than any physical disability. She explained further to the BBC, "In some respects, we are all hearing impaired on a daily basis."

This inspired McLuskey to create speech bubbles that isolate would-be socializers, and protect them from outside distractions. The pair of "social spheres," as she calls them, come in both a table-top and portable version. The stationary version can be used to join large groups of friends, but it's the mobile version that is really turning heads. Designed like an old-school diving helmet, each one is comprised of three "ports" around a dome. (Without it, you'd be drowning in sound, get it?) This allows two people to get awkwardly close and hold a conversation, regardless of background noise.

McLuskey told the BBC that she hopes "the very noticeable and eccentric appearance starts people talking about hearing impairments." The designs will be on display at Edinburgh Napier University's School of Arts and Creative Industries Degree Show from May 13th through the 23rd. [From: BBC, via: Dvice]

Tags: accessibility, audio, design, health, hearing impairment, HearingImpairment, top

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