Disclosed technology includes technology for compensating for a balance dysfunction. A system can combine sensory substitution with balance dysfunction suppression. Dysfunctional balance information coming from a recipient's vestibular system is inhibited using stimulation. Balance information (e.g. how the recipient is positioned with respect to gravity, such as rotation along pitch and roll axes) is then passed to another sensory channel (e.g., visual, audible, or tactile sensory channels). Such a system can be implemented with a cochlear implant or another sensory prostheses having balance signals injected into the stimulation signal processing path.

A speech transmission compensation apparatus that assists discrimination of speech heard by a user, includes: one or more computers each including a memory and a processor configured to: accept input of a speech signal, detect a specific type of sound in the speech signal, analyze an acoustic characteristic of the specific type of sound in the speech signal and output the acoustic characteristic; accept input of the acoustic characteristic being output by the memory and the processor, generate a vibration signal of a duration corresponding to the acoustic characteristic and output the vibration signal; and accept input of the vibration signal being output by the memory and the processor and provide the user with vibration for the duration on the basis of the vibration signal.

A computer-implemented method for audio to tactile enhancement comprising obtaining audio data comprising a sample of speech, generating at least one haptic cue definition by performing a first signal processing operation on at least one portion of the audio data, and actuating a haptic actuator comprised in a user device or a writing instrument according to the at least one haptic cue definition. Examples concern obtaining a pulse signal representing a pulse of a user of the user device or the writing instrument, wherein the pulse signal is obtained substantially simultaneously with obtaining the audio data and applying a second signal processing operation to the pulse signal, wherein the second signal processing operation calculates a heart rate variability signal of the user.

Exemplary light control devices and methods provide a regional variation of visual information and sampling (“V-VIS”) of an ocular field of view that improves or stabilizes vision, ameliorates a visual symptom, reduces the rate of vision loss, or reduces the progression of an ophthalmic or neurologic condition, disease, injury or disorder. The V-VIS devices and methods generate a moving aperture effect anterior to a retina that samples and delivers to the retina environmental light from an ocular field of view at a sampling rate between 50 hertz and 50 kilohertz. Certain of these V-VIS devices and methods may be combined with augmented or virtual reality, vision measurement, vision monitoring, or other therapies including, but not limited to, pharmacological, gene, retinal replacement and stem cell therapies.

Exemplary light control devices and methods provide a regional variation of visual information and sampling (“V-VIS”) of an ocular field of view that improves or stabilizes vision, ameliorates a visual symptom, reduces the rate of vision loss, or reduces the progression of an ophthalmic or neurologic condition, disease, injury or disorder. The V-VIS devices and methods generate a moving aperture effect anterior to a retina that samples and delivers to the retina environmental light from an ocular field of view at a sampling rate between 50 hertz and 50 kilohertz. Certain of these V-VIS devices and methods may be combined with augmented or virtual reality, vision measurement, vision monitoring, or other therapies including, but not limited to, pharmacological, gene, retinal replacement and stem cell therapies.

Apparatus and methods for bone conduction detection are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes memory; machine-readable instructions; and processor circuitry to execute the machine-readable instructions to associate a vibration signal with a voice or with motion, the vibration signal transmitted via a bone structure of a user; permit access to a user application based on the association of the vibration signal with the voice; and deny access to the user application based on the association of the vibration signal with the motion.

Apparatus and methods for bone conduction detection are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes memory; machine-readable instructions; and processor circuitry to execute the machine-readable instructions to associate a vibration signal with a voice or with motion, the vibration signal transmitted via a bone structure of a user; permit access to a user application based on the association of the vibration signal with the voice; and deny access to the user application based on the association of the vibration signal with the motion.

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 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.

An interface relay system for use with a fully implantable medical devices that permits transcutaneous coupling of the implanted medical device to a consumer electronics device. In one embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device provides a back-up source of power for operating the implanted medical device. In another embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device allows for providing unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transfer between the devices. In one arrangement, the consumer electronics device may be connectable to a communications/data network to allow for network communication between the implantable medical device and a remote processing platform/server.