1.0
Headphone 1.0
Listening to music becomes popular
- People wear headphones in public, when music became portable, thanks to the Sony Walkman.
- Media formats improved from cassettes, then compact discs and then to digital portable music players.
- Headphones are simple, wired devices that just squirt sound in your ears.
2.0
Headphone 2.0
Wireless connectivity
- Bluetooth products become widespread and extend usage to phone calls in noisy environments.
- New features such as using voice as an interface to control the product.
- Renewed interest in spatial audio rendering with head tracking.
3.0
Headphone 3.0
Apps for your ears
- New devices no longer considered basic phone accessories.
- Devices will contain apps and will be driven by the user to enable software features unlocking a new wave of innovation.
- Multiple apps running simultaneously will provide a personalized experience that can be changed at any time.
- Devices used for multiple activities and will soon be worn all day long.
As manufacturers look to add more features to differentiate their products, the complexity and processing needs increase significantly. It quickly reaches a point where it becomes impossible to predict which features users want and need during a typical day.
The answer to this problem is all around us. We live in a digital world and we are already very familiar with devices we use every day that meet every individual's needs. Our phones, laptops, smart watches, tablets… all are personalized, configured and updated through apps.