U-R-Able

Clever Technology Supports Persons Living With Vision Loss

AfterShokz open-ear headphones offer improved street-safety and awareness of surroundings for blind persons.

Syracuse, NY — June 25, 2012 ─ AfterShokz, a unique brand of open-ear headphones powered by patent pending bone conduction technology, today announces it has entered into a partnership with U-R-Able, a North American company that provides assistive technologies for persons living with vision loss. U-R-Able has recognized AfterShokz headphones as the solution to a significant problem for all people dependent on hearing for their work, life and play.

The AfterShokz brand offers users the benefit of comfortable, healthy and safe transmission of sound. Unlike conventional headphones and earbuds that use the eardrums to transmit sound, AfterShokz headphones rest comfortably in front of the ear and utilize bone conduction technology to transmit sound through the listener’s cheekbones to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum completely. Launched at the 2012 International CES, the brand that gained critical acclaim around the globe was recognized by U-R-Able as providing unique benefits to persons living with blindness:

“I am pleased to present AfterShokz products as they allow blind and other hearing-dependent persons to use audio devices (such as screen readers), global guidance technologies, cell phones and audio players while remaining acutely in touch with their surroundings,” said Rob Nevin, principal of U-R-Able. “Stationary or mobile, whether alone or in tandem with other audio sources, AfterShokz headphones provide immediate improvements for people living with blindness.”

AfterShokz headphones are manufactured to MIL10 Specs in an ISO 9000 certified manufacturing facility. Originally developed for use by military special ops and SWAT teams worldwide, AfterShokz bone conduction technology utilizes superior microelectronics coupled to a patent pending dual suspension system that delivers superior audio performance. AfterShokz bone conduction technology permits users to hear music or voice communications through the headphone while leaving their ears free to hear ambient sound. In addition, AfterShokz headphones are far more comfortable and stable than earbuds, especially when used over extended periods of time. Many people find earbuds to be uncomfortable to wear and they tend to fall out of the ear during vigorous activity. With AfterShokz, listeners are able to hear ambient noises such as oncoming traffic, car horns, ambulances or other warning noises, potentially preventing accidents that can be caused by headphones and earbuds blocking out these sounds.

Bruce Borenstein, the president and CEO of AfterShokz added, “We’re thrilled to be the first U.S. manufacturer to really harness bone conduction technology and build it into stylish and consumer-friendly headphones that a wide variety of users—teens, active adults, business travelers and most notably, the communities with hearing and vision loss—can benefit from.”

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About AfterShokz

AfterShokz brings patent pending bone conduction technology, initially developed for military special operations and law enforcement by VoxTech in 2001, to everyday sport and mobile headphones. AfterShokz offers consumers a more comfortable, healthy and safe listening experience with two models of ear-free headphones: AfterShokz Sport and AfterShokz Mobile. Unlike conventional headphones and earbuds that use the eardrums to transmit sound, AfterShokz transmits sound through the listener’s cheekbones to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum completely. To learn more about the company’s use of bone conduction technology and detailed features of this innovative headphone line, please visit http://www.aftershokz.com. Connect with AfterShokz on the go via their social networks by giving the brand a thumbs-up on Facebook and following on Twitter.

About U-R-Able

We inspire. U-R-Able, in everything we do we believe in challenging the status quo. We support persons living with blindness. We believe in unique approaches, as “the way it is” is the single factor limiting joy and success. The ways we challenge the status quo is to ensure that our products are purposely designed for persons with blindness, are easy to use, and rapidly accelerate access to information and completion of work. We create and provide great technologies and make them available where blind people work, live, learn and play. To learn more about U-R-Able, products and commitments globally please visit http://www.u-r-able.com.