Tuesday, 26th July 2005 (4383 views)

The RNID are hoping that a new display at the Victoria & Albert Museum will help push the design of hearing aids forward.

The “Future of Hearing” display, showing at the Twentieth Century gallery at the V&A, depicts a number of radical designs intended to revolutionise hearing aids in the modern era.

“Hearwear" designs seek to mix functional hearing aids with contemporary fashions, with some of the more extravagant examples including gold, platinum and silver components.

The RNID, which represents nine million deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the UK, is hoping that the display will open up general acceptance of hearing aids as a fashionable accessory as well as a functional device.

Certain stigma is believed to be attached to prescribed hearing aids, which commonly put off their wearers with their appearance.

But the RNID, together with Blueprint design magazine and the creative agency Wolff Olins, has now commissioned 15 product designers to "rethink the future of hearing products".

The prototypes revolve around the mantra that hearing aids must be small and discreet, with some designs including glasses with four built-in microphones.

The RNID hopes technology companies will develop some of the ideas so that they will become available in the marketplace.

 

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