A WORCESTER student has designed a cutting-edge gaming headset for people with hearing aids which solves the issue of feedback.
Sam Gaze, who is studying at Bournemouth University, was awarded the Joseph Stannah Award for the most innovative and inclusive design which promotes independent living at this year’s New Designers.
New Designers is an exhibition of more than 3,000 design students showcasing innovative designs over a two-week period at the Business Design Centre in Islington.
In addition, Sam will receive £1,000 to support the further development of his career.
The Immersion Gamers Headset was designed as part of Sam’s final year Product Design course. His design allows the user to independently change volume in either ear and improve the perception and experience of surround sound. The tech used was inspired by the groynes at Bournemouth beach, which work on the same principle as sound waves.
Sam discovered there was a need for better clarity for hearing-aids users when using headphones.
According to the RNID there are 12million people who have some form of hearing loss and estimate there’ll be around 14.2million adults with hearing loss greater than 25 dBHL across the UK by 2035 – and yet there are no headphones which have been designed for use with hearing aids.
Sam said: “When I was conducting my research, I found the size of headphone earcups aren’t designed to fit a hearing aid.
“The feedback I was getting was many had spent a considerable amount of money on their hearing aids and so wanted them to work with headphones. It seemed to be shouting at me as a genuine problem.”
As one of Britain’s leading engineering companies and a world-leader in lifting products, Stannah is dedicated to education in engineering.
Through its Joseph Stannah Foundation supports STEM projects in in local schools and colleges that promote engineering and related sciences as a career.
