MEGASOUND is an integrated MP3 music player with headphone and stereo functions in the one device. The listener changes its function by changing its form.
Music-playing devices such as phonographs, cassette players, CD players, and MP3 players have been developed with the purpose of playing new formats of music. They have not developed in terms of how people like to listen to music. MEGASOUND has been designed to play MP3 files, but it also gives the user the flexibility to listen to music privately or publicly without the need to plug in either headphones or speakers.
MEGASOUND is an integrated music player with headphone and stereo functions, and a built-in MP3 player. The user switches its function by changing its form. The changing form was inspired by the fact that both headphones and stereos use speakers to make sound. Thus, the device has been designed to share the speakers. MEGASOUND benefits from the advantages of headphones – portability and a private listening environment – and stereos – the ability to share music with others. Now music can be shared anywhere.
MEGASOUND also addresses some of the user interface issues of products that are currently on the market. For example, existing headphones with built-in MP3 players are controlled by buttons on the outside the speakers. As a result, once they are placed on the user’s head, it is difficult to push the buttons correctly as they cannot be seen. To solve this problem, MEGASOUND uses the speakers themselves to control the player. By simply turning the speakers back and forth, the user can control the volume and select the music. This allows more intuitive product control not only when MEGASOUND is in headphone mode, but also when it is in stereo mode.
MEGASOUND also provides a visual experience of the music being played. In stereo mode, the band that stretches around the device emits various LED waveforms depending on the type of music. There are six variations – pop, jazz, classical, techno, rock, and funk – and this visual feature provides plentiful user experiences. |
