EARPHONE AND HEADSET [DESIGN COMPARE]
By: Robi Dewi Asih Pramesti
Tags: Design Principles, Earphones, Headphones

USER’S GOAL

Basically the purpose of using a earphone as in general is to listen to music without having to hold the hand phone too long or to do multitasking activities. Users only need to plug the earphone into a hole that has been provided on a device such as a cellphone or computer. Then the earphone as a voice intermediary from the device to the user. Users can also adjust the volume as desired.

Meanwhile for headset, besides being used to listen to music, users usually use it to play games that require extra features and clearer sounds.

THE OBJECT SUPPORT USER’S GOALS

Earphones have a long cable and a form that is easy to carry everywhere so that it can facilitate users in terms of listening to music in various places or various activities. Of course without having to hold the hand phone too long which gives the impact of losing or theft becoming smaller.

For headsets, with the form of two large speaker and equipped with extra bass features provide additional experience for users who are playing games. Even more for one type of headset there is a microphone that can be used to communicate.

HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER

From price, earphones are usually cheaper than headsets. Because the shape is smaller and doesn’t need much material in its manufacture. In addition, these earphones are equipped with earbuds on both speaker user ears. It could be that because the earbuds can be are big or too small. This of course makes the feeling uncomfortable in its use because it become sick or continue to detach from our ears. For those who want to buy earphones, it is advisable to try it first before buying if it is not right, ask the seller to find the right earbuds so the use of these earphones is more comfortable.

Whereas for the headset, the price is usually quite expensive compared to the earphones because the two speaker are large and have extra bass features. For the features provided, the headset does provide an interesting experience, but if its use is wrong, such as adjusting the volume is too large, it will have an impact on the health of the user’s ear. For this reason, if you want to use it comfortably, you have to be smart in managing volume according to the level of user needs.

DESIGN PRINCIPLE

AFFORDANCE

For earphones and headsets users can use it by plugging the cable into the hole of the mobile device or computer that is also provided. For headsets, the short length can be adjusted to our ears and head. There are regulators that can be stretched to extend them and are encouraged to play them down. Whereas earphones, the shape of the cable cannot be changed. For volume, these headsets and earphones can be set in size because features have been provided.

2. SIGNIFIERS

For sign of adjusting volume, earphones and headsets have the same sign, that is there are two or three buttons (depending on the brand) which are usually located in the middle of the cable to adjust the volume. Usually with a + sign to increase the volume, — to increase the volume and round to stop the music.

Whereas for the headset, unfortunately on the short length of the regulator, there is no marker or information that the headset can be extended or how to use it.

3. MAPPING

Mapping at the earphones, as already explained, it only has a button to adjust the volume in the center of the cable, the earbuds on both speakers, and the audio jack at the bottom of the cable.

Whereas for the headset there is a regulator that can be extended short to adjust the ear located between the two speakers, then there is a microphone that is used for communication, the sound control button in the middle of the cable, and the last audio jack located at the bottom of the cable.

4. DISCOVERABILITY

In earphones, there is no information that cannot be used. All markers or information available on the headset can be operated.

But on a headset, one of the ROG Strix Fusion 500 brands, there is a lit light that indicates the headset is connected or is on. This means the headset only provides information but there is no activity that we have to do

5. FEEDBACK

In general, feedback from earphones and headsets is the same. If we plug our headsets or earphones into a hole on a computer or cellphone, will produce a sound that is loud enough to indicate that the headset or earphones have been turned on. Moreover when we play music, the sound on the hand phone device or computer is automatically transmitted to a headset or earphone that will distribute the sound to the user’s ear. Whereas for the sound control button if we press it a “click” sound will appear, then the sound can be changed according to our wishes.

There is a difference for the headset, if we set the short length of the headset stem it will hear the sound “grek”.

6. CONSTRAINTS

Related with reducing errors, usually on the earphone or headset on the speaker part there’s the R (Right) / L (Left) sign that provides information about the speaker that must be used on the right or left in our ears. Of course this can reduce user errors in using these accessories.