For those of you that don't know, bone conduction is a technique used to vibrate the skull so that users with hearing disabilities can hear better. It is commonly used in hearing aids. Toshiba Consumer Marketing has developed a wireless speaker, inside a pillow, using this technology.

Toshiba Consumer Marketing, Inc. will put the "Private Sound Pillow (RLX-P1)" o­n sale December 16th. It is a pillow containing a speaker that uses bone conducting. Though listed as Open Price, early indicators suggest it to be around 20,000 yen.

This device works by using a pillow, utilizing bone conducting, which connects to a sound transmitter via infrared. This differs from a normal speaker, in that it conducts sound directly to the cochlea in the inner ear by way of the skull. This way, o­nly those people who have their heads o­n the pillow will hear the sound, rather than the people around them, allowing for personal enjoyment of music or TV sound. Also, since there is nothing such as a headphones blocking the ears, it will be easy to hear things such as the phone, doorbell, people calling you and other common noises...allowing you to communicate while listening to music.

The main pillow unit, with a button shaped bone conducting unit, contains two such speakers, allowing for stereo music or audio. The pillow size is 310 x 160 x 25mm (W x D x H), and weighs 230 g. The internal infrared receiver works in front of the infrared transmitter up to about 6 meters away.

The pillow is equipped with a volume knob and power button. It has an internal battery, lasting about 8 hours. Recharging this battery takes 5 hours. Also, the device will power itself off after two minutes of receiving no audio signal.

The transmission unit is 80mm in diameter, 97mm high, and weighs 140 grams. In addition to a Line-In jack, it has a Microphone In jack, and transmits the audio signal to the pillow unit via infrared.

Original Article:
http://watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20031211/toshiba.htm

Toshiba Consumer Marketing Homepage:
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/tcm/