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Final Project

The inspiration for this project comes from my personal experience. I was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of seven, and since then, one of my biggest challenges has been identifying the source of sounds—especially while walking or moving around. Often, I found it so difficult to determine when someone is speaking to me and from which direction.

Driven by this need, I am developing a wearable device designed to restore the user's sense of auditory orientation. The system detects the source of loud sounds and uses strategic haptic feedback (vibration patterns) to indicate exactly where they are coming from.

Furthermore, this project aims to go beyond safety and assistance; it integrates a feature that transforms music into vibrations. This enriches the sensory experience, allowing people with profound hearing loss or deafness to 'feel' the music and reconnect with their environment in a new way.

link Fig 1. Project sketch

Initial Project Systems

🎤

Sound Input System

The project will use basic microphones placed on different sides of the wearable to detect surrounding sounds. By comparing the signals, the system will estimate from which side the sound is coming.

🧠

Processing & Control

A small microcontroller, such as a XIAO series board, will be used to read the microphone data and make simple decisions based on sound intensity and direction.

📳

Haptic Feedback System

Small vibration motors will provide feedback to the user. Each vibration pattern will represent a direction, helping the user understand where the sound is coming from through touch.

🔋

Power System

The device will be powered by a compact battery, allowing it to be wearable and portable. Basic voltage regulation will be included to safely power the electronics.

👕

Physical / Wearable

The structure will be designed as a wearable object (like a clip or band) and fabricated using 3D printing or flexible materials to comfortably hold the electronic components.

Plan for the next weeks

To achieve the final result, I have mapped the development of the device to the weekly assignments:

  • • Computer-Aided Design: Design the 3D model of the wearable casing, focusing on ergonomics so it fits comfortably on clothes or as a wristband.
  • • Electronics Design & Production: Design a custom PCB for the XIAO microcontroller that connects the microphones and vibration motors without loose wires.
  • • 3D Printing: Fabricate the final housing of the device to hold all components securely using PLA or PETG.
  • • Molding and Casting: Create a soft silicone cover or button interface for a better tactile experience and user comfort.
  • • Input Devices: Program the microphones to read ambient sound levels and implement the logic to detect the direction of the noise source.
  • • Output Devices: Control the vibration motors to provide haptic feedback (left or right vibration) corresponding to the detected sound direction.
  • • Interface and Application Programming: Build a simple visual interface to monitor the microphone values in real-time and calibrate the sensitivity.