Bone Conduction

It's not only bicycles that are getting smarter. The latest smart cycling accessory on its way to streets, the Coros Linx smart helmet pulls those irritating, dangerous earbuds out of the cyclist's ears, using bone conduction for music play, hands-free calling and other audio features.

Listening to music via headphones can isolate the listener from the rest of the world. The new Batband bone conduction headphones, however, allow users to to still hear what is going on around them. Audio is transmitted through the bones of the skull, while the ears remain uncovered.

BAE Systems is in the process of developing bone conduction technology for use by soldiers on the battlefield. The helmet-based system should have the effect of allowing soldiers to hear comms over the loudest battlefield noises.

AfterShokz Trekz Titanium headphones combine bone conduction and patented technology to deliver premium audio while leaving ears open for ambient sounds. They're intended for activities where the user needs to maintain situational awareness, such as running, hiking, or cycling.

There are already plenty of ways of taking hands-free phone calls, although most of those involve wearing some sort of earpiece. Buhel's SG05 SoundGlasses take a different approach. They relay sound to the user via bone conduction, leaving their ears open to hear the world around them.

The UK's Porter & Davies has announced the KT Platform Tactile Monitor, which is said to transmit sound to a musician by kinetic transfer, promising that you will "literally feel it in your bones."

The UK's Damson Audio is looking to shake up the headphone market with the development of the stylish Bluetooth-enabled Headbones bone conduction headphones.

Gizmag reviews the Cynaps bone conduction hat that transmits sound vibrations via your skull.

Finis has significantly upgraded its bone conduction SwiMP3 underwater audio player with the release of a new US$160 Neptune.

A pair of concept pieces developed by students and the Royal College of Arts in London allow wearers to fine tune their senses of sight and hearing.

Google has filed a patent detailing the use of bone conduction audio in a wearable-tech device.

Casio's Logosease device allows scuba divers to talk to one another while underwater.