Abstract: A hearing aid sleeve is made from a pliable and flexible rubber material. The sleeve is configured to minimize acoustic feedback in an ear canal by restricting movement of a hearing aid relative to the ear canal. The hearing aid sleeve includes a pliable rubber body configured to flex to the contours of an ear canal, the rubber body having an outer surface. The opposing ends of the sleeve form a tapered contour. An aperture passes from a first end to a second end. The aperture is configured to accept contact with the hearing aid. The outer surface of the body is configured to flex to the contour of the ear canal and grip the surface of the ear canal, thereby increasing the compressive forces around the hearing aid sufficient to minimize acoustic feedback.

Abstract: Techniques for gamifying real-time network communications between users. In one implementation, a video puzzle based may be created based on scrambling a live video stream from a first user. The video puzzle may be displayed to a second user in communication with the first user. Responsive to a solving of the video puzzle by the second user, communications functionality between the first user and second user may be modified. For example, a fee assessed by a chat service or other facilitator for hosting the communications between the first user and second user may be waived or reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a direct and/or ambience signal from a downmix signal and spatial parametric information, the downmix signal and the spatial parametric information representing a multi-channel audio signal having more channels than the downmix signal, wherein the spatial parametric information has inter-channel relations of the multi-channel audio signal, is described. The apparatus has a direct/ambience estimator and a direct/ambience extractor. The direct/ambience estimator is configured for estimating a level information of a direct portion and/or an ambient portion of the multi-channel audio signal based on the spatial parametric information. The direct/ambience extractor is configured for extracting a direct signal portion and/or an ambient signal portion from the downmix signal based on the estimated level information of the direct portion or the ambient portion.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a main unit having a first housing with a groove and a speaker having a second housing and an adjusting rod. The groove has a limiting section and a stop portion receiving section, a minimum width of which is greater than that of the limiting section. The adjusting rod has a rod body extending through the limiting section, and a stop portion received in and rotatable relative to the stop portion receiving section and having an outer diameter greater than the minimum width of the limiting section. Through the cooperation of the adjusting rod and the groove, the speaker is multi-directionally adjustable relative to the main unit.

Abstract: An insulated sounder assembly may include: a) a sounder cup having a bottom and a sidewall; b) a piezoelectric element positioned in the bottom of the cup; c) a potting layer within the sounder cup and spaced apart from the piezoelectric element so that the potting layer contacts the cup sidewall for a distance of at least 3 mm around the entire circumference of the cup, and so that a gap exists between the piezoelectric element and the potting layer, with the gap being sufficient to allow vibration of the piezoelectric element in the sounder cup without restriction by the potting layer; and d) an electrical contact wire attached to the piezoelectric element to provide a voltage to the piezoelectric element, wherein the electrical contact wire passes through the potting layer so that at least 3 mm of bare wire is completely embedded in said potting layer.

Abstract: A speaker device including: a hollow case; a drive unit housed in the case and configured to cause a diaphragm to vibrate; and a curved diaphragm having a flat plate curved and arranged to stand in an upright position on an upper surface of the case, wherein a diaphragm of the drive unit is exposed at a part of a surface of the case, and a part of a base end of the curved diaphragm abuts on the diaphragm of the drive unit, and the curved diaphragm is compressively deformed through a standing pole arranged to extend between a tip end of the curved diaphragm and the case, whereby vibration of the diaphragm of the drive unit is allowed to propagate to the curved diaphragm and the case so that sound is allowed to come out of the diaphragm of the drive unit, the curved diaphragm, and the case.

Abstract: A method for establishing a video conference is provided. The method is applied in a video conferencing system. The system has a first electronic device, a second electronic device, a third electronic device, a fourth electronic device, and a server. The first and second electronic devices are associated with a first user. The third and fourth electronic devices are associated with a second user. The method is capable of building an audio communication between the first electronic device and the third electronic device over a telecommunications network; and building a video communication between the second electronic device and the fourth electronic device over an IP network simultaneously, wherein the video communication is parallel to the audio communication.