By: Erin Watts

Who likes listening to music? Many of the answers will be a resounding “me!” What about the people who can’t listen to music, those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing?  They can’t enjoy music the same way hearing people can. Honestly, it isn’t fair. As someone who loves music and uses it every day, I couldn’t imagine going a day without listening to music, let alone living my life without the ability to hear music. Luckily, new technology has been created and tested for deaf or hard of hearing people to “listen” to music- the Haptic Suit.  

The Haptic Suit has gone through many trials and new looks. Prior to this new technology, deaf or hard-of-hearing people had the speakers facing the floor and simply walked around barefoot to feel the vibrations. So, creators got to work on making something for the deaf and hard-of-hearing to have a better and easier way to listen to music. Originally, wearing the suit felt like having eight phones strapped around the body. After realizing that was not very comfortable, the manufacturers at Music: Not Impossible worked on a different version of the suit. The most recent and updated version has a little backpack, wristbands and ankle bands. The suit is able to translate volume and notes by changing the strength of the vibrations. Not only that, but the suit is able to translate the vibrations to one specific spot on the body. The suit allows the vibrations to match complimentary to the song, not the exact same beats. A specialized Haptic DJ controls the music in the suits.  He is able to control the music’s intensity. Though an expensive feat, manufacturers are working on getting the suit to be more accessible to the public. At a recent New York event at the Lincoln Center, 75 suits were available to anyone who wished to try one on during a “Silent Disco.”  

This new technology is changing the game for those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.  The world is evolving and I am so excited to see what happens next!  If you’re interested on reading more, checkout “Vibrating Haptic Suits give Deaf People a New Way to Feel Live Music” on npr.org, https://www.npr.org/2023/07/17/1186173942/vibrating-haptic-suits-give-deaf-people-a-new-way-to-feel-live-music

Photo courtesy of NPR