October 22, 2007 Korean handset manufacturer Pantech have unveiled a bone conduction mobile phone that transmits sound to the inner ear using vibration. Not only does the ongoing emergence of bone conduction technology represent a solution for using phones in noisy environments, but it’s also a boon for the elderly or those suffering hearing loss for whom the use of conventional speaker phones is problematic.
The Pantech-au A1407PT has a bone-conduction speaker attached on the front of handset which transmits sound via vibration when held against the users skull.
The function is available when the flip-phone design is closed and a 6cm wide LCD with oversized characters is included along with three one-touch buttons to further enhance functionality for the elderly.
The phone also features multimedia functions such as a built-in camera as well as a personal anti-crime alarm that can be activated by pressing and holding the “#” button.
Pantech Group plan to release the A1407PT into the Japanese market from November.
Previous examples of bone conduction technology covered in Gizmag include MP3 players, stereo headsets , snorkels and even a finger phone concept.
