Star Trek at 50 - In-Ear Communicators

People began getting sound pumped into their ear canal long before Steve Jobs produced white earbuds and Dr. Dre jumped in the game.

The May 1926 issue of Science and Invention magazine included a brief article about a new pair of earbud headphones. The magazine touts many benefits of these headphones that echo the preferences of today: they are lighter, they take up less space, and more comfortable than bulky headphones in hot weather.

The first early ancestors of headphones were used by telephone operators in the 1880's. Less than portable, it was a single earpiece that rested on the user's shoulder and weighed over 10 pounds. In 1910, an eccentric Utah tinkerer named Nathaniel Baldwin began manufacturing the first modern headphones. He crafted them in his kitchen and sold them to the U.S. Navy. Miniaturization allowed microphones to be added to the headset for the complete talk and listen combination. And now the entire thing fits in our ear.

This week, a look at in-ear communication.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Humor. It is a difficult concept." - Lieutenant JG Saavik, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

   ST50 - In-Ear Communicators