The evolution of Headsets

With the Evolution of dance being the most popular youtube video ever it led me to think about the evolution of the humble headset. I am not sure how long you can go back to the benginning of the headset, but probably the first people I can remember using a headset day to day were the telegraph operators and then a bit later telephone operators.

Before all the jiggery pokey and electronic exchanges telephone calls had to be routed manually and people used to put you through by hand. This led to delays and acidental cut offs and people getting put through to people that they did not want to. The headset was used to hear the request for what number they needed and then they were put through. The nosy operator could then listen into the conversation if needed and knew all the gossip in the town before anyone else. Pretty much like the doctors wife!

Then things get a little more exciting with World War Two and all the pilots having headsets that can switch between the different gunners and talk to them without leaving their seat. These were big and bulky and made of metal as plastic was not widely avaiable if at all.

As the technology progressed we saw more and more use of the headset in the music industry where producers could mix music live whilst the singers were performing in the studio. They could listen live with on ear and then mix with the other, using one can on and one can off style. Of course then they could use the mic to tell the musicians to be cool man and do one more take.

As time progressed the need for mobility increased and people wanted to hear and talk and move at the same time. So we started to see the first wireless headsets. These were expensive and only really avaiable to top end performers like maddonna and music industry people. But the need for mobility was still there and as the technology got better and the price came down we saw the move of the wireless headset into other areas. Office workers took up the wireless headset and could suddenly be on the phone and move around the shop floor, check stock and report on progress. This freed up resource and made two people’s job one.

So what next…I think we will see the wireless headset becoming less bulky and more invisible and more socially acceptable. Also people will be able to take off and put on with ease and not leave it on all the time. Great use of omnidirection microphone will mean more discrete microphone placement. Also better noice reduction not just for the wearer but also the speaker. Therefore even if it is a busy call centre the customer will only be able to heat the operators voice. Clear as day.

Maybe we could even go a step further and see real time translation in a headset. Go to another country and speak and hear as normal and the headset translates in real time and does your communication for you. How cool would that be…I might be able to more than buy a loaf of bread in France.

All the questions you ever had about headsets

Manufacturers Pricing Policy:

Plantronics and GN Netcom price their headsets excluding the final part of the leads as these will depend on the telephone that you are going to connect the headset to.

Can I have a Headset with my Mobile Phone?

Yes of course you can. You just need to tell the headset retailer what mobile phone you have and they will be able to show you a selection of suitable headsets.

What are the types of headset available?

a) Single Speaker. This is for people who need to be able to quickly talk to different people on the phone and others around them.

b) Two Speaker this is better for when all you need to do is hear the person on the other end of the phone, These types of headset dampen out surrounding noise so you can concentrate on what is being said.

c) Over the Ear. It is good for use in the car. Very light weight and has advantages of being easy to put on and off.

What is Noise Cancelling?

There are many types of noise cancelling headsets available. From the high end ones that are used in airplanes to filter out the engine noise to the ones that dampen office noise.

What if I haven’t a Headset socket on my Phone?

You can use an amplifier and plug the headset into this.

What is an Amplifier?

The incoming and outgoing telephone noise can be controlled with an amplifier and is a useful addition to a headset.

Amplifiers also are good to use when you need to switch between sound sorces like pc and telephone and mobile phone. They often also have a mute button which is great for stopping incoming and outgoing noise from your headset.

Where can I get Spares for my Headset?

All good headsets distributors carry spares for the major headsets. Do not worry are the bits you need can be easily found.

I want to use a Headset through my PC which Headsets are suitable?

You usually want to find a headset with a jack and are the same ones that you use with an ipod or walkman. There are thousands of these types of inexpensive headsets. Your only choice for extra cash is a wireless one which will free you up.

There are so many other features in a headset that it is difficult to talk about all the features in a headset. The main thing is to find one that is comfortable and that works with your existing equipment. Also work out if you need to move away from your desk whilst on the phone. If you do need to stay on the phone and move around then think about the range you will need as some headsets are better. It all comes down to cost and the best thing is to narrow your choice down to a few headsets and then read some online reviews.

New law could have a serious impact

Mobile phones are an essential tool in today’s fast paced business environment and being contactable during working hours is a necessity, so new legislation which bans the use of a hand held mobile phone while driving leaves you with a stark choice. Continue using your mobile phone regardless and risk potential fines and endorsements on your licence or hang up whilst in the car, leaving you out of touch for hours at a time.
Fortunately, there is an alternative. By choosing a flexible Plantronics hands free solution, you not only remove the risk of infringing the new regulations, but you also maximise your efficiency, availability and productivity.

Voyager™ 510
All day wearing comfort and superb audio quality for busy mobile professionals in a stylish and discreet design. Includes Windsmart™ technology and noise cancelling microphone for the ultimate in audio clarity.

More about headsets

Acoustic shock and headsets

What causes acoustic shock in headsets?

Acoustic shock is a sudden noise delivered at high frequency and is very unpleasant. People that spend a lot of time on the phone are most at risk, people like call centre opperatives and recruitment consultants. The noise can be caused by many differing problems. For call centre operatives the products used to get the telephones calls in can produce

electrical feedback,
sonic spikes which are high energy and latent,
faulty telephone lines,
switchboards which are non compliant,

also the acoustic shock can come from the caller who blows, whistles or produces a loud noise down the telephone line.

Is this somethihng I need to seriously consider?

Yes this causes physical damage to people and therefore companies with staff at risk need to have prevention measures in place.

Is this something new?

It is not new but call centres have only recently become an industry in their own right. Therefore there has been little data before to show the problem. Many call centres with staff injury claims have settled out of court not wanting to court publicity.

In any organisation who is responsible for this?

There is usually someone in every organisation who is tasked with health and safety they should have a procedure in place and they will be able to tell you the measures in place to protect employees.

What does the law say?

This is covered under the health and saftey at work act.

What is there to be done?

The government recommends that you attend an education program to find out more about this issue

If I do nothing what could happen?

You could face a lawsuit and add to the £10,000,000 that has been spent already on lawsuits.

more about headsets

Headsets

I like headsets I really do!!