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For the Love of iPod (hearing loss prevention)
iPod: Adventures in Entertainment
iPod Sport Kit: More Than Music to Workout By
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The good news is that iPODs are a great product, they’re cool, and they bring a lot of joy. People can be pretty fanatic about their iPOD. They say it opens up a whole new world of sound to them. It’s not just kids either. I have friends in their 40’s and 50’s who can’t part with it and have unabashedly declared their addiction to their iPOD. I even have one older friend who swears he can suddenly hear better out of his impaired left ear when wearing his iPOD with earbuds.
Now we all know the bad news too. Experts are warning us that using MP3 Players in general, and iPODs in particular, can potentially cause significant hearing loss over time. Noise induced hearing loss is not isolated to music of course.
Sudden loud noise such as a gun firing or an explosion at close range can wreak havoc on the auditory system. In this situation, the exposure to noise is brief but the ear does not have time to sense the sudden trauma and protect itself; thus damage occurs. This is evident when ringing in the ears is present after the event.
Another common noise induced hearing loss is the result of exposure to significant noise levels over an extended period of time. The loudness that creates the damage may not seem excessive to some people; perhaps the sound of a loud truck, a vacuum cleaner, or machines in a factory. When exposed to these sounds the ear will to some extent attempt to protect itself, but over a prolonged period of time, it fatigues and damage occurs. The damage occurs gradually and is generally not noticeable until it is too late.
So, basically hearing loss can result from exposure to loud sounds (sounds over 120 decibels for instance) or exposure to less intense noise over a period of time (85 decibels for more than an hour).
A couple of additional features of our glorious iPOD create concerns for those involved in caring for our hearing. One is the earbud style headphones which move the source of sound closer to the structures which allow us to hear. These earbuds actually increase the sound by 6-9 decibels over the traditional over-the-ear headphones. Thus, they give us louder listening and greater risk of damage. In addition, the fact that the iPOD can hold and play thousands of songs and hours of music ensures that we are listening for prolonged periods of time. So, you guessed it, even if we turn the volume down a bit, we can still have damage due to the prolonged listening.
So, are you ready to give up your iPOD? No, I didn’t think so. Most of us have figured out that just about everything potentially causes damage to our fragile bodies and the goal is to act responsibly while still enjoying ourselves. So here are just a few common sense things to help you listen responsibly:
Apple blessed us with these wonderful little devices, but don’t lose your hearing for the love of iPOD.
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There are still millions of people who don't yet own an iPod and there are many who have never experienced the phenomena known as iPod who will debate the purchase of one for somebody they love. For the uninitiated, it often seems that there is a lot of excitement over something that at first glance appears to merely be a digitized and glorified old style tape recorder. It is for those individuals that we review the true meaning and ability of this device for it is truly an entertainment icon.
An iPod plays music, thousands of hours of personalized music, music selected by the user, and played to sound the way the individual prefers it. Yes, this tiny device has its own equalizer and sound controls. Many users have described the exceptional digital sound quality with earbuds to have opened a whole new world of listening. Users can also develop their own play lists so that they listen to a certain genre of music at different times; for instance, rock music when they run and classical when they drive into work.
It is clear that an iPod offers a lightweight, portable way of listening as it weighs only ounces and is a half inch thick. In the home, iPod can even eliminate all of the old stereo components when used with the iPod Hi-Fi. Again, despite the small size of the iPod Hi-Fi, which is 17"x6.6"x6.9", sound quality is exceptional and users are in control with the remote.
Beyond iPod's exceptional musical talents, it also offers the ability to listen to podcasts and audiobooks which can be downloaded off of the internet. Listening is easy and users can book mark the chapters so that they can pick up where they left off without searching.
Current generation iPods offer great video as well through a 2.5" color display screen. iPod can now store up to 25,000 photos and 150 hours of video. Now users can play music video or ad free TV shows wherever they are. For those who prefer a little more active stimulation, iPod also offers games such as Solitaire, Music Quiz, and others.
With all of its impressive entertainment features, it is also important to realize that the tiny iPod is a great little assistant. From offering a Sleep Timer (alarm clock) function to providing access to calendars and contact lists, iPod offers a portable way of staying on top of things. It even has a Notes function to allow users to keep their "To Do List", a stop watch, and a World Clock to check the time anywhere in the world. For active users, iPod even has a link with Nike. Through the iPod sport kit a runner can monitor their speed, distance, and calories burned, sync up with the Nike site, and track their performance over time.
iPod may have started as a simple device for listening to music but it has evolved and its future appears to promise even more entertainment functions. Several major car manufacturers will be offering an iPod integration in some models. Will iPod eventually offer Nintendo Games, videoconferencing, the ability to download entire movies, or access to satellite radio? It's hard to determine, but if the past is a good predictor, it seems likely that more developments are in store for the tiny entertainment device.
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Listening to music while working out is not a new concept. For many, music provides a diversion to help see them through the monotony of a workout and in some cases can provide the motivation to go the full distance. Several months ago however, the iPod Sport Kit was introduced as the result of a collaborative effort by Apple and Nike, and the pairing of music with a workout has now reached a higher level.
The iPod Sport Kit acts as part coach and part cheerleader allowing runners, or walkers, to select the music that will motivate them throughout their workout as well as providing ongoing voice and graphic feedback regarding the distance already covered, the runner's pace, and how long they've been running. When finished with the workout, a summary of the total distance covered, the number of calories burned, and the runner's average speed is reported. The feedback provides a powerful tool for setting and achieving fitness goals whether the user is trying to lose a few pounds or prepare for a marathon.
At the conclusion of a workout, runner's can go back to their PC, transfer workout data from their iPod Nano to the Nikeplus.com site and get a complete evaluation of their performance over time, set goals, and even challenge others using the site. Users can sign up for a free account and also get music for their iPod, obtain a Nike podcast, and learn more about how world renowned athletes are training with their iPod's.
Other blessings of the iPod Sport Kit are its ease of use, comfort, and affordability. Luckily, after pulling the Sport Kit from the box, a runner merely needs to enter their weight, slip the sensor into the insole pocket of their Nike+ shoes, plug the receiver into their iPod Nano, and they are ready to start their workout. Once hooked up, runners will be oblivious to the ultra light sensor resting in their shoe. The price tag for the Sport Kit is a reasonable $29. The battery life of the sensor is generally the limiting factor but it's said to last for approximately 1,000 hours of use. For most of us, that's at least two or three years worth of workouts.
The iPod Sport Kit includes the wireless sensor for the Nike+ shoes and the wireless receiver for the iPod Nano. Although the kit is designed for Nike+ shoes with the special pouch designed specifically for the sensor, many do-it-yourselfers have reported adapting other shoes successfully to accommodate the sensor. The Nano can sync up with any PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000/XP or a Mac with either a 2.0 port or OS X version 10.3.9+ for access to the iTunes and Nikeplus.com sites.
With the iPod Sport Kit providing the inspiration and data to conquer personal goals, working out becomes a bit less painful and a lot more meaningful whether you're a committed fitness buff or a reluctant beginner.
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