With the rise of portable music devices like cassette tapes, CDs, and minidiscs, views on wearing headphones changed. Instead of primarily being used inside the home, people were bringing their music with them on the go. Now, the desire for a smaller, more portable headphone technology was growing. In the s, this need was met with the release of smaller, more portable types of headphones — in-ears, earbuds, neckband headphones, and more.
The use of bone conduction for hearing has been understood for decades. In fact, even Beethoven reportedly used bone conduction when he lost his hearing. As with many innovative headphone technologies, bone conduction was initially used for the military. By transmitting sound directly through the bones of the skull instead of the eardrum, these headphones allowed the user to remain connected to the outside environment.
In time, though, bone conduction headphones expanded to everyday consumers and athletes, with companies such as AfterShokz becoming well-known. A great example of that is the iPods.
The release of iPods made way for portable digital music listening. Because of this, people eagerly moved away from clunky cassette tapes, CDs, etc.
The earpods that accompanied this also innovated the industry with their white, sleek, and modern aesthetic. While there had been extensive upgrades to headphones over the decades, one thing had pretty much always been consistent: wires connecting them to the audio source.
That was about to change with the invention of Bluetooth. As we got into the s, headphones continued to grow in popularity and became increasingly integrated with fashion.
Beats by Dre became a powerful fashion statement and status symbol, especially after gaining popularity with top NBA players today. Their success has inspired other celebrities to enter the headphone industry too. The link between headphones and fashion has continued, with hundreds of styles available today for different functions and preferences.
Apple changed the game again in with a major change in the design of their iPhone and earbuds, moving away from their wired earpods. After their huge success among consumers, more manufacturers and brands have come up with their own versions of AirPods, with some even copying their style outright.
For example, who saw the loss of 3. Other companies might follow that trend, moving exclusively to wireless headphones. Some headphones can now even act as heart rate monitors, hearing protection devices, or even personal coaches for training or workouts. What about going even one step further, and removing the audio source completely? The earbuds or headphones of the future could become an all-in-one device to both store, stream, and play music.
And, with the emergence of VR, surround-sound capabilities will become increasingly popular, even outside of gaming. It might seem crazy to think of today, but what if the headphones of the future looked more like hearing aids — more of a permanent device than one we carry around with us and have to put on and take off? Again, the future is unknown.
Over the years, we can expect greater things and additional functions for headphones in our day-to-day lives. Headphones as we know them have a long history going back over years. The industry has continued to innovate to keep up as technology has evolved and consumer interests have changed.
What did you find most interesting about the history of headphones? Was there a big year or development we missed? Let us know in the comments below and share your big predictions for the future of headphones. Patricia Bath earned many "first" titles over her long career, shattering the glass ceiling through decades of hard work and perseverance, including her invention that revolutionized cataract surgery.
Watch Now. Local News. Weather Traffic U. Station Info. Newsmakers Our America Localish. Follow Us:. Share Tweet Email. SoCal Strong. Completing the circle, Beats was bought by Apple in First Bluetooth stereo headphones, Bluetooth, the wireless connection standard named after the 10th century Danish King, Harald Bluetooth pictured , and first released in , is the reason mainstream headphones are now going wireless.
Truly wireless earbuds, While Bluetooth headphones are now commonplace, truly wireless earbuds — those without any wires connecting them — are still a new and unproven technology. Topics Headphones. Dr Dre Sony Apple Bluetooth. More galleries. Most popular.
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