We introduce speakers "Mirai speaker" for patients with hearing loss and similar products.
Contents
What is "Mirai Speaker"?
"Mirai speaker" is barrier-free speaker of sound. It is a product of Sound Fun Corporation.
How do I acquire 'Mirai Speaker' by yourself?
It is possible to rent it at 2,980 yen / month.
Principle of "Mirai speaker"
I think that it is based on the following patents. The details of the principle seems to be unknown.
What is Comuoon?
"Comuoon" is a dialogue support equipment. It is a product of Universal · Sound Design Co., Ltd.
Universal · Sound Design Corporation Official website
How can I get "Comuoon" by my own?
It seems that it can purchase at 7,600 yen + 36 * 5,800 yen = 216,400 yen. It seems there are times when you can use "daily living gear tool benefit system".
About purchase method (Comuoon official website)
Principle 1 of "Comuoon" - Conversion of sound
comuoon clears the sound input from the microphone clearly and converts it into a clear sound that is easy to hear.
It seems that it converts the input sound so that it is easier to hear and output it. If you estimate from the images posted on the citation source, there is a possibility of boosting the important band for listening by EQ.
Principle of "Comuoon" 2 - Transverse Wave Speaker
"Susumushi speaker" is a speaker that applied the principle that Sumushi grinds wings and produces sounds, seems to be a hint of Comuoon.
Copernicus products for hearing impaired people to improve difficulty in hearing
I found a paper by Prof. Yoshihiro Muto, who introduced "Susumushi speaker" in the above mentioned article. In the thesis, the acoustic characteristics of the underlay bent to the music box is analyzed. It is similar to the structure of "Mirai speaker". Is the root of "Comuoon" and "Mirai speaker" the same?
"Transverse Wave Speaker" having a structure combining a piezoelectric element and a diaphragm is also introduced. Perhaps this is what is called "Sumushi speaker" or "Yokonowa speaker"?
It seems that the result of measuring the sound intensity for each distance is consistent with the result when assuming that transverse waves in the air are generated. However, since the method of deriving the three parameters used in the simulation is not described and the validity of the derived parameter is not discussed, it is not known whether the simulation result can actually exist or not.
There is also a theory that there is no transverse wave of sound, so it happens that the calculation result and the experiment result coincide, it is possible that the principle is actually based on another principle.
Speaker which can generate plane wave
Some speakers have speakers that can generate plane waves. As a result of examination, it is called by various names such as flat speaker, flat speaker, plane wave speaker, etc. There seems to be no unified way of calling.
Supposing that the essential point of "Mirai speaker" and "Transverse Wave Speaker" is plane waves rather than transverse waves, other speakers that can generate plane waves are likely to be effective for hearing loss patients as well.
I examined speakers that I can purchase individually.
F. P. S.
TOA Corporation
TOA PW-1230 DB Plane Wave Speaker, Black
Relationship between hearing loss and plane wave
If a plane wave comes out from "Mirai speaker" or "Transverse Wave Speaker", there is a possibility that the plane wave can be heard for the patient with hearing loss. If so, think about the reason.
Hypothesis 1 - Because it is difficult for the volume to attenuate with distance
Compared to spherical waves, plane waves tend to attenuate in volume depending on distance. Even if it is far from the speaker, it is easy to hear it, so there is a possibility that it may be easy for the hearing impaired patient to hear.
We can verify this hypothesis by comparing the easiness of listening with the plane wave and the spherical wave adjusted to the same volume at the position of the subject with respect to the subject in the same place.
Hypothesis 2 - Volume change when the ears are slightly moved is small
It is similar to hypothesis 1, but due to the influence of ear structure and room reflection, the plane wave is compared with the spherical wave, the volume change in the inner ear when slightly changing the direction of the ear or the ear position compared with the spherical wave There is a possibility that it is small.
There seems to be no one who lives with the ear position and direction fixed perfectly, so the magnitude of the volume change when moving them a little can affect the ease of hearing.
Experiment of hypothesis 1 can be verified if it is done with perfectly fixed condition of ear position and direction and condition moving little by little.
Hypothesis 3 - Because there is little reverberation
Plane waves have strong directivity, so there are few reflections in the room and reverberation sound may be reduced. There is a possibility that the amount of reverberation influences the ease of hearing.
It can be verified by measuring the amount of reverberation of the spherical wave and the plane wave and comparing the hearing easiness with the sound corrected so that the reverberation amount becomes the same with the reverb and so on.
Hypothesis 4 - Because the reverberation is simple
It is similar to hypothesis 3, but there is a possibility that the structure of the reverberation influences the ease of hearing rather than the amount of reverberation. For example, with reverb and short delay, the ease of hearing may be different even with the same amount of reverberation.
It is possible to verify by measuring the impulse response of the spherical wave and the plane wave and comparing the hearing easiness with the sound that simulates the structure of the reverberation by convolution and so on.
Summary
We introduced a speaker "Mirai speaker" for patients with hearing loss and similar products.
※ Price etc is information at the time of article writing. For the latest information please visit the official website.
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I am watched the nhk news article about Mr Sato's “Sound Fun!” Mirai curvy speakers for the hearing impaired. I am caregiver for my mother who is hearing impaired. I would like to purchase this speaker but can not not find a website in Japan Can you lead me to a trustworthy retailer, with an english contact page, who would ship to the USA?
Thank you very much,
-Bruce, Seattle, Washington state, USA
Thank you for your comment.
Please wait for a while as we are in contact with the sound fan.
Please find out if the Mirai speaker can be purchased in America. I tried several times to email the Fun website but never received a reply. There was no message from the server watching that it was un deliverable. I don't speak or write Japanese, so calling their number would probably not work.
Thank you
Sorry for the late response.
We are contacting Sound Fun in Japanese but have no response.
I think they are working on the other work rather than global marketing sadly.
I also called universal sound design.
It is a company that sells a product similar to Mirai Speaker called Comuoon.
https://usd.co.jp/en/
Response summary
– There is no agency other than Japan
– It is possible to buy in Japan and bring it overseas
– There is no guarantee when using it overseas
Do you know how many people are looking for mirai speakers or comuoon?
If it is so much, it may become available if you teach this to individuals or corporations doing import business.