Thread Subject: Re: teitac-hardware Digest, Vol 12, Issue 2

From: Schomburg, Paul
Date: Mon, Sep 24 2007 12:45 PM

• Return to this mailing list's archives
• View all messages in this thread
• Next message in thread: Gregg Vanderheiden: "Re: teitac-hardware Digest, Vol 12, Issue 2"
• Previous message in thread: None
• Messages sorted by: Author | Thread | Date

Greg: I can understand why this might be desirable for a stand-alone
kiosk type product, but I don't believe this requirement for a headphone
jack should be applied to televisions and other CE products. Most TVs
only have RCA-style audio output jacks that connect to standard audio
amplifiers which provide for headphone listening. The reason for this
is that most users do not desire to plug in their headphones into the
display itself, which would place them too close for easy viewing and
block others from seeing.

Rather, it is more effective to have headphone jacks separately
available at a comfortable viewing distance. In addition, where
headphone jacks are provided (such as small screen TVs), plugging in a
headset often results in the sound being muted for other viewers. In a
public space this would be better handled by a separate headphone jack
adapter that doesn't mute the main product speakers.

For these reasons, I think standard 'RCA' audio outputs provide
sufficient connections to enable headphone connections. Since these
connections are available on almost every kind of consumer electronics
A/V entertainment product I do not feel a requirement to have a 2.5 mm
jack is necessary. I'd suggest the following wording:

"Products designed to be used in public places must provide the
connection via an industry standard 2.5mm or 3.5mm audio jack at the
standard signal levels used for headphones/headsets or provide a RCA
audio output for connection to a 2.5mm or 3.5mm phone jack adapter."

Thanks, Paul

-----Original Message-----
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:37:22 -0500
From: Gregg Vanderheiden < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Subject: [teitac-hardware] 2.2-C - Audio Connection
To: "'TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee'"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Cc: 'TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee'
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, 'TEITAC self
contained/closed
products subcommittee' < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Message-ID: <003f01c7fc7e$72b2d570$ab0b2148@NC84301>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Given that the closed function group has suggested that
"Public-shared"
and "personal-private" definitions be deleted (and that the specific
aspects be included in the provisions) how about we change the 2.2-C -
Audio Connection as follows.

2.2-C - Audio Connection

When products provide auditory output beyond simple tonal feedback or
signaling, the audio signal must be provided at a standard signal level
through an industry standard connection that will allow for private
listening.

* Products designed to be used in public places must provide the
connection via a standard 2.5mm or 3.5mm audio jack at the standard
signal
levels used for headphones/headsets.

* All other products can use any connection method as long as long
as
a 2.5mm or 3.5mm phone jack adapter is available from the manufacturer
or
commonly available.


Rationale

1) this is looser than current TEITAC in that all connections are
possible rather than just 'connetors'.

2) It makes the connection for public systems clearer. Also
ensures
users can predict what they would need to have with them when they
encounter
public devices.

3) The jacks allow low cost connection and do not require battery
operated electronic receivers etc.

4) Wireless methods can also be used (in addition to jack) on
public
systems - to provide more options and test these ideas for the future.

5) It allows other methods to be pioneered as sole method on all
but
public devices. If these become ubiquitous and cheap and common enough
they may be sufficient for public devices in the future.

6) The jacks (on public devices and via adapter for other devices)
allows compatibility with a wide variety of assistive listening devices
from
special headphones to amplifiers, cochlear implant amplifiers, hearing
aids
etc.

7) Adapters can be from manufacturer (to allow proprietary
adapters to
be used) or, if they are commonly available otherwise, it allows them to
come from other sources so that it does not require the manufacturer to
stock them (with all the extra costs that that entails).

(suggest we capture our rationale as well as our resolution in the end.
)



Gregg

• Next message in Thread: Gregg Vanderheiden: "Re: teitac-hardware Digest, Vol 12, Issue 2"
• Previous message in Thread: None