Fujitsu is working on an accessory called Ontenna for the hearing impaired. It’s a simple premise, the device vibrates more aggressively the louder a nearby sound is. For example, if you are at the movies and the scene includes an explosion, Ontenna will vibrate at maximum capacity.
The Ontenna is clipped onto a person’s hair or ear so that vibrations can be felt in place of sound for the hearing impaired.
The clip can be attached anywhere someone would want the vibration to be felt. In the hair and on the earlobe.
Newsweek tried Ontenna on the earlobe and found that at max input, the device had enough vibration strength to almost rattle off.
Battery life varies depending on the day (and how loud/how much vibration there is). Fujitsu said it would last around six hours on the average day. A loud day could consume the battery in just two hours.
It is also fitted with a small light to ensure the clip-on device is receiving sounds accurately. Users can also wear multiple devices at once.
Source: Newsweek
