Welcome to season two of Product Powwow.

In this episode, I talk to Nick Hunn, a global expert in wireless technologies and more specifically in what he calls ‘hearables’ – which are ear-based wearables. We cover a lot of ground, including audio, hearing loss, health-sensing and voice control use cases for hearables. Themes include the nuances of human perception and behaviour around this highly intimate technology, and the search for sustainable business models based on all the data wearable devices collect.

This episode is on the longer side, but it was tough to edit down as Nick delivers ‘all killer, no filler’. I hope you enjoy it half as much as I did.

02:05 A brief history of wearables

03:30 In praise of ears and hearing aids

07:15 Wearables still in the 'hope bubble'  

17:10 The hidden genius of hearing aid

26:30 Overcoming the stigma of hearing aids

36:15 Is Apple going to change the game

42:10 What the new Bluetooth LE standard unlock

51:10 The return of voice

57:05 Health monitoring

 1:00:30 What is Apple doing with that health data?

1:04:45 The wider role of hearables in our tech ecosystem

NICK HUNN

Nick is technology strategist, serial entrepreneur, expert witness, keynote speaker and author with a broad view of the details of technologies, user experience and wider interplay of different market solutions.

LinkedIn 

Website: www.nickhunn.com

KEVIN & PLAN

Kevin McCullagh is the founder of Plan, a product strategy consultancy based in London, which helps design and innovation leaders with strategic clarity. He writes and speaks on Foresight, Innovation and Leadership.

LinkedIn 

Newsletters

Website: www.plan.london

Email: [email protected]

MUSIC

By Nico Delaney

https://www.instagram.com/marksson.music