A new species of earbud has emerged – and it looks well adapted to the needs of the market. We look at three of the first models
In the natural world, so the evolutionary biologists tell us, successful species are the ones that adapt best to cope with the prevailing conditions. As in the natural world, so in the world of consumer electronics, it seems.
In evolutionary terms, it seemed to be no time at all before the humble headphone had morphed from a very basic on-ear device into a diversity of capable, comfortable over-ears. Then more recently the diminutive earbud emerged; a variety well adapted to meet the day-to-day migration needs of homo sapiens.
The basic in-ear headphone was a big step forward in terms of convenience, but its design was not without its problems. Many people find conventional earbuds uncomfortable, so designers set about creating a version that doesn’t burrow quite so deeply into the wearer’s ear cavity. The result? The ‘open’ earbud.
Open earbuds are ones that, rather than sitting fully in your ears, attach to them in a way that positions their drivers over your ear cavity rather than in it. In theory, this overcomes any problems of discomfort and, depending on the design, can minimise the risk of the bud falling out too. It also means that users can stay in touch to some degree with what is going on in the world around them because, like open-back headphones, open buds are non-isolating.
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