The Science Squad from 416 have created a presentation on bone conduction and how it can help in the classroom.

1. Bone Conduction as an Aid
Liz Chandler, Elijah Reece, Brian Gatti, Elizabeth Vickery

2. Bone Conduction as an Aid
People who are Deaf/deaf/hard of hearing have
difficulty with communication
Especially when others around them are not fluent in
sign language.
Want to overcome issue by via bone
conduction technology
Plan to utilize bone conduction technology in
convenient design
Everyday usage

3. Origin of our problem
SPED classes taught about Deafness
Personal stake
Elizabeth - Taken a sign language class
Elijah - Brother in law with hearing loss
Liz - Dad with hearing loss
Brian - Mild tinnitus

4. Background of Bone Conduction
Bone conduction bypasses the ear canal
and eardrum
Allows sound to go directly to the hearing
nerve

5. Constraints
● Money
● Limited experience of working with electronics
● Having access to someone with profound
hearing loss
● Comfort and wearability of headband

6. Design Options
● Contact people who know those with hearing loss
● Source low-cost parts
● Research about hearing loss, bone conduction technology, similar
technologies

7. Prototype design 1
Materials:
● Piezo Buzzer/Piezoelectric buzzer
● Solder or use alligator clips (alligator clips until final prototype)
● Headphones
● Headband
● Device

8. Procedures for prototype
1. Obtain alligator clips, piezo piece, and an old set of headphones.
2. Remove the piezo piece from the plastic covering, if present.
3. Cut the headphones about an inch from the “buds,” exposing wire.
4. Connect the piezo piece exposed wires to the alligator clips
5. Connect the other end of the alligator clips to the exposed wires of the old headphones.
6. Plug the the headphones into a device such as an ipod, computer, iphone, etc.
7. Play music through the device. The piezo should buzz. If this is placed on the jawbone, you
should be able to hear music. If bitten on (leaving your mouth partially open), your mouth will
act as a natural speaker, and everyone around you will hear music. This is a good way to test if
it is working.

9. Plan for Recording Data
● Will test prototype on volunteers
● Pre-assessment and Post-assessment
● Google Forms to record data

11. Post-assessment

12. Procedures for testing
We plan to administer the pre-assessment and post-assessment to members
of both the hearing community and the Deaf community, as well as those in
between. We aspire to collect data from a wide variety of hearing abilities, and
will be in contact with professionals for this reason.

13. Links to assessments
Pre - https://goo.gl/forms/XynW6hDF9mrsaPBj1
Post - https://goo.gl/forms/8syt4LMcIakn58mh
Google forms will put this data into tables for us as it is collected.

14. Safety and Ethical Concerns and Ways We’ll
Address Them
● Volume levels being too loud
● Slight discomfort or unforeseen symptoms from excessive buzzing

15. Questions?

16. References
A. (n.d.). AfterShokz. Retrieved January 26, 2017, from https://aftershokz.com/
Vincent, J. (2016, October 24). Are bone conduction headphones good enough yet? Retrieved January 26, 2017, from
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/24/13383616/bone-conduction-headphones-best-pair-aftershokz