Abstract: Various aspects include wearable devices and related approaches for stimulating nerves proximate a user's ear, e.g., providing one or more health benefits. In some particular aspects, a wearable device for providing vibrotactile stimulus to at least one nerve proximate an ear of a user includes: an earpiece having a vibration device for application of vibrotactile stimulus proximate at least one of a concha region or an ear canal of the user; and a controller connected with the vibration device, the controller configured to actuate the vibration device according to a modulated pattern to stimulate at least one nerve proximate the ear of the user, where the modulated pattern is characterized by: a peak drive level sufficient to stimulate nerve endings of at least one nerve proximate the ear of the user; and a carrier frequency of approximately 50 Hertz (Hz) to approximately 500 Hz.

Abstract: Various aspects include approaches for managing tinnitus in a user. In some particular aspects, a computer-implemented method of managing tinnitus of a user with at least one wearable device includes: actuating, according to a prescribed pattern and using the at least one wearable device: a) an electro-acoustic transducer to provide an audio output to the user, and b) a contact element to apply vibration to a body part of the user, where the prescribed pattern both stimulates the nervous system of the user and delivers a sound to the user, which together mitigate the tinnitus.

Abstract: Various aspects include approaches for managing tinnitus in a user. In some particular aspects, a computer-implemented method of managing tinnitus of a user with at least one wearable device includes: actuating, according to a prescribed pattern and using the at least one wearable device: a) an electro-acoustic transducer to provide an audio output to the user, and b) a contact element to apply vibration to a body part of the user, where the prescribed pattern both stimulates the nervous system of the user and delivers a sound to the user, which together mitigate the tinnitus.

Abstract: Various implementations include headphone systems configured to adapt to changes in user environment. In some particular cases, a headphone system includes at least one headphone including an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output; a sensor system configured to detect an environmental condition proximate the at least one headphone; and a control system coupled with the at least one headphone and the sensor system, the control system configured to: receive data about the environmental condition from the sensor system; and modify the audio output at the at least one headphone in response to a change in the environmental condition, wherein the audio output includes a continuous audio output provided across a transition between environmental conditions and is configured to vary with the change in the environmental condition.

Abstract: Various implementations include headphone systems configured to adapt to changes in user environment. In some particular cases, a headphone system includes at least one headphone including an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output; a sensor system configured to detect an environmental condition proximate the at least one headphone; and a control system coupled with the at least one headphone and the sensor system, the control system configured to: receive data about the environmental condition from the sensor system; and modify the audio output at the at least one headphone in response to a change in the environmental condition, wherein the audio output includes a continuous audio output provided across a transition between environmental conditions and is configured to vary with the change in the environmental condition.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. In some particular implementations, a computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device includes: receiving an initiation command to initiate a spatial audio mode; providing a plurality of audio choices corresponding with spatially delineated zones in an array defined relative to a physical position of the wearable audio device, in response to the initiation command, wherein each audio choice is associated with a prescribed action; receiving a selection command selecting one of the plurality of audio choices; and taking one of the prescribed actions in response to receiving the selection command.

Abstract: Various implementations include headphone systems configured to adapt to changes in user environment. In some particular cases, a headphone system includes at least one headphone including an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output; a sensor system configured to detect an environmental condition proximate the at least one headphone; and a control system coupled with the at least one headphone and the sensor system, the control system configured to: receive data about the environmental condition from the sensor system; and modify the audio output at the at least one headphone in response to a change in the environmental condition, wherein the audio output includes a continuous audio output provided across a transition between environmental conditions and is configured to vary with the change in the environmental condition.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. In some particular implementations, a computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device includes: receiving an initiation command to initiate a spatial audio mode; providing a plurality of audio choices corresponding with spatially delineated zones in an array defined relative to a physical position of the wearable audio device, in response to the initiation command, wherein each audio choice is associated with a prescribed action; receiving a selection command selecting one of the plurality of audio choices; and taking one of the prescribed actions in response to receiving the selection command.

Abstract: Various implementations include audio systems for controlling audio feedback to user requests. In some particular cases, a headphone system includes at least one headphone including an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output; at least one microphone for receiving an audio input from a user; and a control system including a recommendation engine, the control system coupled with the at least one headphone and the at least one microphone, the recommendation engine configured to: analyze the audio input for a non-specific request from the user; and provide an audio sample to the user along with a prompt for feedback about the audio sample in response to the non-specific request.

Abstract: Various implementations include headphone systems configured to adapt to changes in user environment. In some particular cases, a headphone system includes at least one headphone including an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output; a sensor system configured to detect an environmental condition proximate the at least one headphone; and a control system coupled with the at least one headphone and the sensor system, the control system configured to: receive data about the environmental condition from the sensor system; and modify the audio output at the at least one headphone in response to a change in the environmental condition, wherein the audio output includes a continuous audio output provided across a transition between environmental conditions and is configured to vary with the change in the environmental condition.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. In some particular implementations, a computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device includes: receiving inertial information indicating a current physical position of the wearable audio device; predicting a future physical position of the wearable audio device from the inertial information; and rendering at least one audio sample associated with the predicted future physical position at the wearable audio device prior to or during movement of the wearable audio device from the current physical position to the predicted future physical position.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. In some particular implementations, a computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device includes: receiving inertial information indicating a current physical position of the wearable audio device; predicting a future physical position of the wearable audio device from the inertial information; and rendering at least one audio sample associated with the predicted future physical position at the wearable audio device prior to or during movement of the wearable audio device from the current physical position to the predicted future physical position.

Abstract: Various implementations include headphone systems configured to adapt to changes in user environment. In some particular cases, a headphone system includes at least one headphone including an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output; a sensor system configured to detect an environmental condition proximate the at least one headphone; and a control system coupled with the at least one headphone and the sensor system, the control system configured to: receive data about the environmental condition from the sensor system; and modify the audio output at the at least one headphone in response to a change in the environmental condition, wherein the audio output includes a continuous audio output provided across a transition between environmental conditions and is configured to vary with the change in the environmental condition.

Abstract: Various implementations include audio systems for controlling audio feedback to user requests. In some particular cases, a headphone system includes at least one headphone including an acoustic transducer having a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output; at least one microphone for receiving an audio input from a user; and a control system including a recommendation engine, the control system coupled with the at least one headphone and the at least one microphone, the recommendation engine configured to: analyze the audio input for a non-specific request from the user; and provide an audio sample to the user along with a prompt for feedback about the audio sample in response to the non-specific request.

Abstract: Various implementations include wearable audio devices and related methods for controlling such devices. In some particular implementations, a computer-implemented method of controlling a wearable audio device includes: receiving an initiation command to initiate a spatial audio mode; providing a plurality of audio samples corresponding with spatially delineated zones in an array defined relative to a physical position of the wearable audio device, in response to the initiation command, where each audio sample is associated with a source of audio content; receiving a selection command selecting one of the plurality of audio samples; and initiating playback of the source of audio content associated with the selected audio sample.

Abstract: A computer program product, tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, includes instructions, which when executed by a data processor of a multimedia player, cause the data processor to determine first media content characteristics that characterize a user-specific collection of media content; compare the first media content characteristics with second media content characteristics that characterize a first set of external media content channels; and based on the results of the comparison, present identifiers of a subset of the first set of external media content channels on an interface of the multimedia player.

Abstract: A computer program product, tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, includes instructions, which when executed by a data processor of a multimedia player, cause the data processor to examine media content characteristics that characterize a user-specific collection of media content to identify a first cluster of media content that share similar media content characteristics; generate a first set of media content objects that characterize the first cluster of media content; and identify at least a subset of the first set of media content objects as potential seed objects for a set of media content channels.

Abstract: A computer program product, tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, includes instructions, which when executed by a data processor of a multimedia player, cause the data processor to determine first media content characteristics that characterize a user-specific collection of media content; compare the first media content characteristics with second media content characteristics that characterize a first set of external media content channels; and based on the results of the comparison, present identifiers of a subset of the first set of external media content channels on an interface of the multimedia player.