Headset aesthetics

Headsets

Rapid growth in the use of computers and telemarketing means that more and more people in many walks of life are finding themselves hefore a visual display unit, operating a keyboard accessing data, I and using a telephone terminal with a headset. Headsets, once the domain of the telephone switchboard operator, are playing the major role in solving their problem. With the continuing growth in this area it is vital that telephone system designers, manufacturers and suppliers co-operate closely with specialist telecommunication headsets companies early on in the design stage to ensure that the customer gets sufficient choice of quality products.

With the ACD market sector growing at an ever increasing rate, organisations large and small are having to face the fact that more and more of their employees need to have their hands free to operate a computer keyboard when conducting telephone conversations.

Companies involved in the growing business of telemarketing and financial services, and those using direct order entry, such as express delivery services, airline reservations, as well as such public service organisations as police, fire and ambulance are all making use of headsets to overcome the problem, and at the same time increasing their employee's productivity and efficiency.

Most headsets today are light and efficient and offer excellent sound quality. It is important, however, that operators using these sets, often for most of the day, should look right and feel right when wearing them. When a headset is worn, there is a tendency to regard it as an article of clothing, and if the user doesn't like the headset then he or she will find a reason for not wearing it. So aesthetics as well as comfort are of prime importance.

Headsets are frequently perceived to be expensive but, in com­parison with the cost of the telephone systems they are used with, they represent but a fraction of the cost. OEMs need to recognise at the design stage that the headset is the all important man-machine interface, and although an accessory to the system, its performance is a critical aspect of the total system design. The recently intro­duced range of quality headsets, such as Profile, are of advanced design and construction and offer exceptional performance. They use the latest surface mount technology and because of their micro­miniature design, and the need for customisation to a wide range of PABX, ACD, Key Systems and other telephone instruments, are generally hand-assembled. The flex cord, too, needs to be of high quality toensure reliability and, insome cases, is tested to withstand 750(X)0 test flexures.

Compared with a handset, the headset has to be light yet able to withstand hard use. It is constantly picked up and frequently dropped and tends to be under constant flexure.

Developments in modern plastics, and the introduction of the electret microphone have allowed development of headsets weigh­ing ounces and of spider-like proportions, yet which are amazingly strong and flexible. There are even plastics which allow the headset to be formed to fit the head simply by heating with friction from the hand. Headsets come in a variety of forms, over-the-head, under-the-chin, on-the-еаг, but the market is tending to standardise on two major types: the over-the-head and the on-the-ear versions as shown in Figures 58.14 and 58.15 respectively. The tip-in-ear variety is in decline, partly due to the fact that it can irritate the inside of the ear, as well as cause aural hygiene problems. Hygiene is also an import­ant consideration in respect of ease of cleaning and maintaining.

Дата добавления: 2015-03-31