A Survey on the Affordances of “Hearables”

Abstract

Recent developments pertaining to ear-mounted wearable computer interfaces (i.e., “hearables”) offer a number of distinct affordances over other wearable devices in ambient and ubiquitous computing systems. This paper provides a survey of hearables and the possibilities that they offer as computer interfaces. Thereafter, these affordances are examined with respect to other wearable interfaces. Finally, several historical trends are noted within this domain, and multiple paths for future development are offered.