TIPS friends, this is slightly tangential to the teaching of psychology. But I can't resist offering you all a personal example of a human factors psychology initiatve that has become my avocational passion: offering hearing assistance that people with hearing hearing loss will use.
It's "hearing aid compatible assistive listening"--assistive listening that, with a simple magnetic "hearing loop," broadcasts PA system sound, TV sound, etc. directly to hearing aids. The technology functions with hearing aids rather like wi-fi does with a laptop. Hearing loops have become commonplace in the Nordic countries and the UK, where, for example, it is in the back seats of all London taxis (which have a dashboard mic), at 11,500 post office windows, and in most cathedrals and places of worship with PA systems. It's now also in some 300 west Michigan locations, iincluding all gate areas of Michigan's second largest airport. And it's spreading to other communities, thanks to initiatives in Arizona, New Mexico, Silicon Valley, central Wisconsin, and New York City (which I believe will soon be announcing the installation of hearing loops in its 642 subway information booths). In such venues, and in many home TV rooms, hearing aids have doubled functionality, by serving also as in-the-ear loudspeakers delivering customized sound. (Believe me, it's very cool, and no person with hearing loss who experiences this wants to give it up.) Moreover, the magnetic "telecoil" receiver for this technology is essentially free to the user. It consumes no power, can fit in almost all hearing aids (and now comes in 60% of them, as well as most cochlear implants), and can also enhance telephone conversation. (Did you know that all landline phones and more and more cell phones deliver not only sound but also an even better magnetic signal to hearing aids equipped with telecoils?) In the USA, our prevailing assistive listening ignores the human factor. It requires someone, if having trouble hearing, to take the initiative to locate, check out, wear and return a receiver and conspicuous headset (which very few people with hearing loss will do). So, how does one change a culture from one assistive technology to a better one? What sort of persuasion and social influence, directed to what audiences, can bring us to a tipping point where a new technology becomes prevalent? FYI, www.sciam.com has just posted an article on this (for which http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=induction-hearing-loop will be a permanent link). For anyone who is interested I have created www.hearingloop.org and posted articles there. A recent international "hearing loops conference<http://www.hearingloops.org/>" hosted by the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People offers additional information and a resolution on behalf of all people with hearing loss. Or write me and I'll send along some recent blog entries with photos and more liniks. Dave Myers www.davidmyers.org www.hearingloop.org --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
