Deaf-blind professor Suvorov assembles a development team at Hackathon

Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov, a famous Russian psychologist, and writer, came up with the concept of a device designed to help a deaf-blind person to perceive music at a new qualitative level. The draft name of the new project is “Headset” (Shlemofon), now the scientist is assembling a team that can translate his idea into a working prototype at the Hackathon.

Alexander Suvorov is looking for engineers in sound equipment, radio engineering, electronics and the production of the sound-amplifying equipment. Professor Suvorov is ready to accept everyone who has the necessary knowledge and desire to realize himself in technical creativity. The event for developers will be held on November 23-24 in Moscow.

The upcoming marathon will be entirely devoted to biotechnology, medicine, and rehabilitation. The event is designed to help engineers and designers bring their ideas to life. This year, people with disabilities, who need the help of new technologies and devices to ensure a comfortable life will set the development tasks themselves. The name of the Hackathon speaks for itself - "Technology of opportunity."

The idea of the “Headset” project was first described by Alexander Suvorov in his book “Meeting of the Universes, or Deaf-blind Aliens in the World of capable to see and hear.”

In its third part, the professor suggests creating an alternative opportunity to perceive sound, with the help of which it will be possible to listen to music.

The tactile capabilities of a person, according to the scientist, are quite suitable for this. Therefore, the most successful solution for transmitting music will be the use of vibration.

In the book, Suvorov discusses a hypothetical hearing aid that not only amplifies the sound of the desired frequency but also at the same time converts the sounds into vibration. The professor considers the key point of such a device to be able to regulate vibration and sound in each speaker separately so that any deaf or hard of hearing person can customize it.

“I dream of a headset that would have air conduction hearing aids as well as vibromotors. And that’s all with separate adjustment. On the left and on the right ear - through the behind-the-ear apparatus of air conduction (sound is passed through the ear canal), each with its own microphone and volume control. On the forehead, and preferably above the eyes, there are also vibration motors to determine the location of the sound source according to which side the vibration is stronger, ”Alexander Suvorov writes in his book.

The project “Headset” provides for the development of the first-ever hearing aid. Conceptually, such a device will consist of powerful audio-vibro headphones with the separate volume control of the speakers and a vibrating subwoofer above the bridge of the nose or eyes.

Outwardly, it will really look like a headset: on one earband there are sound headphones with individual volume controls, and another one with a vibrating device on the forehead is attached to the center of the earring connecting them.

Despite the fact that the Hackathon starts in two days, it’s not too late to join the team of Alexander Suvorov and become the first to create a unique headset. You can register for the developer marathon here.

Opportunity Technologies Hackathon will be held November 23-24 at the SAP Digital Leadership Center. Hackathon is two days of brainstorming, engineering, and big discoveries. Participants will come to the finish line with their own full-fledged project and will be able to enlist the support of industry experts.

The total prize pool of the Hackathon will be 500,000 rubles.

In 2019, the Hackathon “Technology of Opportunities” became the winner of the Grant Contest of the Mayor of Moscow and is supported by the Moscow administration.