This mention won't appeal to very many of you,
BUT it might be a life-changer
IF you know someone with a serious hearing impairment who is using Oticon Epoq hearing instruments. They are remarkable in and of themselves. . . .
However, an accessory
Streamer . . . .
allows me for the first time in nearly 2 decades to use a cell phone and have clear, unimpeded wireless connection to any other phone. The phone, of course, must be Bluetooth equipped.
Unless you are hearing impaired you may not know what a revelation such an advance can be to someone who has been denied the effective use of a cell phone.
As an extra added attraction, the Epoq, when its Streamer is connected to my iPhone (and presumably any other Bluetooth device), allows me to hear (in stereo and HiDef) my iTunes Library. Music and audiobooks are truly compelling, especially in cars and planes.
No, I don't own any stock in Oticon.
PS: As an
extra added attraction to this post, here's the interesting
history of the Bluetooth nomenclature. Perhaps everyone here already knows this, but it was news to me when my audiologist sent me this fascinating story, which she had obtained from Oticon . . .
In 1995 the Swedish phone company, Ericsson, conducted a pilot study on the feasability of a wireless system that basically would replace corded interfacings between various electronic devices. Such a system should have a short range and allow multiple devices/users to operate at close proximity to each other without interference (which is not the case with, e. g., FM technology).
The outcome of the study was positive and Ericsson formed a consortium of high-tech companies to develop the technology for the short-range transmitting/receiving device.
During the formative stage of the consortium it was decided that a code name was needed to name their effort.
Over an evening, discussing Nordic history and the future of wireless technology, the consortium decided to code name the technology after the 10th century Danish king Harald Blåtand - Harold Bluetooth in English. The king had been instrumental in uniting warring factions in many parts of what today are Denmark, Sweden, Norway and northern Germany - just as the technology is designed to allow collaboration between differing industries such as computing, cell phone, automotive, TV and now the hearing aid industry.
The name stuck.
In 2000 the Bluetooth technology hit the commercial market. Its technology is referred to as frequency-hopping digital spread-spectrum technology, but the name Bluetooth is more fun.
The Bluetooth logo combines the old Scandinavian Runic letters of H (looking somewhat like an asterisk) and B.
You will hear much more about Bluetooth in the future.
PS: The Danish king did not have a blue tooth and his real name was not Blåtand. It was Blaa Tan. Blaa in old Danish meant dark complexioned person and tan meant great, strong man. Over the hundreds of years after his death in a viking battle in 985, the nickname Blåtand was derived from his real name. Imagine if the technology had been named: DarkCompexionedGreatStrongMan.
Now, ABD, take that to your Christmas reception and amaze your friends and colleagues when
frequency-hopping digital spread-spectrum technology is introduced into the conversation.
