Re: Enhanced hearing

I also read about hearing aids using DSP-based devices that offer
selective frequency amplification, but what I really want for now is
just some sort of "sound" telescope that can amplify any sound.

Anyway, the application of this device is somewhat silly. I was
thinking of creating a tone generator and attaching it to another
object. I would throw this object or hide it in the bushes and use the
"enhanced hearing" device to detect the location of the tone. It's for
some game that I thought about. Of course, if I know the tone's
frequency, then I can just use some form of tight bandpass filter to
get rid of other frequencies.

Thanks!


Michael Black wrote:
They're called "hearing aids".

But as someone points out, when you start amplifying to hear the distant
and weak signals, you also amplify the closer and louder signals. So
if you want to hear that older guy barely speaking next to you, when
you crank up the amplification the frogs in the pond outdoors are far
louder.

Of course, hearing aids aren't quite so much about making things loud,
as they are about selective amplification, to compensate for hearing
loss.

The details of your "bionic ear" really are too micro, they deal
with fine detail that ignores the bigger problems.

You've overlooked the selective nature of "stereo" hearing; having
two ears really does help to "tune out" the unwanted sounds. The
head does help.

And you need to deal with coupling the amplified sound into the ear.

Some sort of selective and variable filtering might be useful,
so you can get rid of those obnoxious frogs (though at the expense
of a slot in the frequency range for the other sounds). The "Bionic
Man" would have it done all with computer, so there is some algorithm
to get the sounds you want and get rid of the unwanted sounds without
much fussing by the person using it.

Michael

.

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