A method and a device for increasing the perception of acoustic events, particularly for increasing musical sensitivity. As high a correlation as possible between heard and felt perceptions can be achieved by the conversion of the musical signal into vibrations on the skin, the local impact distribution of the filtered musical signals, the emphasis of the dominant musical signals by expanding the extent of the impact, the transfer of the signal portions in the non-feelable range into the feelable range, and the variable base spectrum adapting to the current musical spectrum.

A method may include receiving a reading from a pressure sensor disposed within an object in contact with a body of a user, where the pressure sensor includes a force sensitive resistor (FSR) in series with a constant resistor. The object may host a transducer that is configured to provide vibrotactile sensations to the body of the user. The method may also include, using the reading from the pressure sensor, computing an amount of pressure exerted on the object by the body of the user. The method may additionally include comparing the amount of pressure to a pressure threshold data structure to determine a transducer system state associated with the transducer. The method may also include performing equalization processing on an output signal used by the transducer, where the equalization processing is specific to the transducer system state.

Provided is an apparatus for bodily sensation of bone vibration. The apparatus includes: an electric signal generator configured to generate an electric signal; an amplifier configured to amplify the electric signal from the electric signal generator; a vibrator configured to transduce the amplified electric signal transmitted from the amplifier into a mechanical vibration; a metal vibration member directly coupled to a vibration generator of the vibrator, the vibration member having a seat portion configured to contact with a human body and a side surface portion continuing with the seat portion; and a seat support member provided on a back surface of the seat portion, covering the vibrator, and configured to be placed on a placement plane and to support the seat portion above and apart from the placement plane so as to keep vibrational energy from being conducted to the placement plane.

A method for providing information to a user, the method including: receiving an input signal from a sensing device associated with a sensory modality of the user; generating a preprocessed signal upon preprocessing the input signal with a set of preprocessing operations; extracting a set of features from the preprocessed signal; processing the set of features with a neural network system; mapping outputs of the neural network system to a device domain associated with a device including a distribution of haptic actuators in proximity to the user; and at the distribution of haptic actuators, cooperatively producing a haptic output representative of at least a portion of the input signal, thereby providing information to the user.

A method for providing information to a user, the method including: receiving an input signal from a sensing device associated with a sensory modality of the user; generating a preprocessed signal upon preprocessing the input signal with a set of preprocessing operations; extracting a set of features from the preprocessed signal; processing the set of features with a neural network system; mapping outputs of the neural network system to a device domain associated with a device including a distribution of haptic actuators in proximity to the user; and at the distribution of haptic actuators, cooperatively producing a haptic output representative of at least a portion of the input signal, thereby providing information to the user.

Provided is an apparatus for bodily sensation of bone vibration. The apparatus includes: an electric signal generator configured to generate an electric signal; an amplifier configured to amplify the electric signal from the electric signal generator; a vibrator configured to transduce the amplified electric signal transmitted from the amplifier into a mechanical vibration; a metal vibration member directly coupled to a vibration generator of the vibrator, the vibration member having a seat portion configured to contact with a human body and a side surface portion continuing with the seat portion; and a seat support member provided on a back surface of the seat portion, covering the vibrator, and configured to be placed on a placement plane and to support the seat portion above and apart from the placement plane so as to keep vibrational energy from being conducted to the placement plane.

A system for indicating a direction to a user is disclosed. The system may include a first unit and a second unit to be worn proximate to a first ear and a second ear of the user respectively. The system may indicate a direction to the user through tactile sensations delivered proximate to the ears of the user by the first and second units. The system may also include microphones to aid in determining the direction of a source of a sound and the system may indicate the determined direction, thereby allowing the user to localize the sound. The system may also function as hearing aids. The system may aid individuals with hearing disabilities by alerting them to the direction of the source of a sound.

An apparatus for affecting pressure waves within at least part of or in proximity to an ear of a user. At least part of the apparatus is configured to be wearable within at least part of or in proximity to the ear of the user. The apparatus further includes a processor operative in response to an input signal of an input to control an output of an ultrasound emitter. The ultrasound emitter is configured to generate an ultrasound output which affects air and/or biological tissue in proximity to the ultrasound emitter.

Treatment actions can be taken based on an analysis of the ability of a recipient of an auditory prosthesis to perceive musical activities. The occurrence of musical activities and the recipient's response thereto can be determined based on transducers. The recipient's musical perception can be determined by analyzing the signals from the transducers as stand-alone measures or by comparing the signals against known music. The treatment actions can relate to the treatment of a hearing-impairment of the recipient of the auditory prosthesis, such as by modifying the settings of the auditory prosthesis to affect the ongoing operation of the auditory prosthesis.

A method for providing information to a user, the method including: receiving an input signal from a sensing device associated with a sensory modality of the user; generating a preprocessed signal upon preprocessing the input signal with a set of preprocessing operations; extracting a set of features from the preprocessed signal; processing the set of features with a neural network system; mapping outputs of the neural network system to a device domain associated with a device including a distribution of haptic actuators in proximity to the user; and at the distribution of haptic actuators, cooperatively producing a haptic output representative of at least a portion of the input signal, thereby providing information to the user.