The document discusses the dangers of traditional coiled tube radio systems that force users to plug one ear. This reduces binaural awareness and the ability to localize sounds. The solution presented is the earHero, which uses small micro speakers placed in the ear canal to allow the user to hear the radio and their surroundings simultaneously and binaurally. The earHero offers stealth, security, comfort, and gives users in sensitive fields every advantage through improved spatial awareness.

2. Overview
• Background
• Problem
• Dangers of Plugging One Ear
• The Solution
• Stealth, Security, and Comfort
• Time for Change

3. Background
• Traditional radio equipment has a wide and
constantly changing variety of configurations
(mics, push-to-talks, & handhelds)
• But one item that has remained constant is
the coiled tube system bringing the sound
over and into the ear

4. Problem
The problem:
Coiled tube hearing systems (used in law
enforcement, security, and covert ops)
forces the user to listen to the radio in one
ear and monitor his surroundings with the
other ear

5. Dangers of Plugging One Ear
• Hearing is crucial to spatial awareness
• Plugging one ear is not natural to the way the
human hearing system is designed
– Reduces ability to localize sound (where it is
coming from),
– Reduces depth perception

6. Localization Example
• If a person has his left ear plugged and hears
distant footsteps from the left side, many
times a person will initally turn to the right
• The hearing system will localize a sound
because it came in one ear a little quicker and
a little louder
• The head shadow effect also acts as a barrier,
increasing the effect
• Turning to the perceived louder sound can
result in dramatic and unwanted effects

7. We have a solution…
• We created earHero to allow the user to stay
connected to his device (radio, cell phone) and
still maintain binaural awarness in his/her
environment

8. How do we do this?...
• By using micro speakers that are smaller than
the typical ear canal designed for the hearing
aid industry
• earHero places the speaker in the ear canal
allowing clear radio and operating
environment sound in simultaneously
• The concha lock makes sure the earHero
speakers stay in the ear even in the harshest
conditions

10. Stealth, Security, & Comfort
Benefits:
• The clear wire and small size makes the
earHero discrete enough for the most
sensitive operations
• Comfortable enough to be worn all day with
no fatigue
• The adjustable cord slide moves the wire to
behind the head becoming invisible while
providing tension relief off the ears

11. Time for Change
• It is critial that we reevaluate how we interact
with our environment
• It is necessary we give our people in the field
every possible advantage