Non-Auditory, Musical Feedback for the Hearing Impaired

This project has been secured to protect intellectual property.

Project Overview

In March 2018, the World Health Organization stated that 5% of the world’s population, or 466 million people, suffer from hearing loss. Without auditory feedback, these individuals find it difficult to adjust their voices for their intended communicative and musical purposes. This leads to exclusion and a reduction of opportunities in their personal and professional lives. Thus, a device that transposes vocalizations into another mode of feedback is necessary for self-correction.

Our goal is to develop a wearable device that transposes a user’s sounds into real-time haptic feedback. The device will convert sounds into unique mechanical vibrations that are detected by the user. These vibrations will give information regarding the sound’s amplitude, tone, and pitch. To supplement these signals, visual feedback may also be utilized.

This project was founded on the basis of inclusiveness. Those that suffer from physical disabilities should not be restricted in their social interactions and opportunities. We foresee this device aiding in teaching people with hearing disabilities to speak and sing in public confidently through real-time haptic and visual feedback.

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Yogesh Mahendran, Arushi Saran, Danica Fliss, Haleigh Simon, Harin Patel, David Luzzio (L to R)

Contact Information

Team Members

Yogesh Mahendran - Team Leader
Arushi Saran - Co-Communicator
Haleigh Simon - Co-Communicator
Harin Patel - BSAC
David Luzzio - BWIG
Danica Fliss - BPAG

Advisor and Client

Prof. Amit Nimunkar - Advisor
Prof. Tracy Jane Puccinelli - Client