2. Try on a new style of listening
The Sony W-Series Walkman offers an innovative, ultra compact design that
incorporates an MP3 player into a pair of ear buds. It's easy to use and Sony
includes a unique feature for browsing songs. There's more than one way to
make a wireless MP3 player, and building it directly into a set of headphones
may seem like the easy way out, but it gets the job done. Plus, there are
none of those audio-fidelity issues you might run into with technologies such
as RF and Bluetooth, which is probably why Sony elected to take this route
with its new W-Series Walkman. This 2GB MP3 player is built into a set of
impressively small ear bud-style headphones and sports a palatable.
3. Product Description
Manufacturer's Description:
Water Resistant, Washable, Wearable and Wire free, the Sony WALKMAN:
Sport Edition is ideal for sports and active lifestyles. Its all-in-one design fits
securely on our head, setting us free to enjoy your music in the gym, on a run
or out walking without wires getting in the way. Keep on moving whatever the
weather, thanks to the water resistant design which makes it easy to clean. A
choice of ear bud sizes ensure you get a custom, comfortable fit.
4. Ergonomic Applications of Sony walkman W series:
It's easy to guess why, because above all, they have been hard to use.
People have had to fumble with these screen less players to find songs. If we
have many tracks, our hand stays glued to the player as we hunt down the
one you want. That much stress, and we forget how nice it is without the
cords. People should enjoy wearable players, but designers have had a hard
time ensuring usability. And the fact that potential users can't choose their
favorite headphones and have no recourse if they don't like the fit or audio
quality made people think twice.
The user experience must be much more enjoyable than squinting at a tiny
display, trying to control the player. Once wearable players offer a better
experience, people will appreciate their advantages. Here, the key is the
user interface.
5. Two rectangular audio modules--measuring roughly 2-inches long by 0.8-
inch wide and 0.4-inch deep--attach to one another via a flexible, twisting
neckband. It's the smallest all-in-one MP3 player/headphone we've ever
seen, and it's impressively lightweight, as well (1.3 ounces).
6. When stored, the Walkman W maintains this classic, composite appearance.
When worn, the two earpieces are split apart. This action of separating them
has the strange effect of revealing to new users how to wear the player. And
when the earpieces are joined, a magnetic sensor automatically pauses or
stops playback. It makes sense, this chain of events from separating the
earpieces to listen, wearing them, and joining them again when you're
finished. It's not just a matter of styling; we orchestrated the way you use
the device itself, the series of events from beginning to end.
7. As might be expected, the W-Series Walkman's interface is rather
untraditional. Naturally, there's no screen--it would be rather difficult to view
one on a device that's attached to your ears anyway. Music plays straight
through in alphanumeric order by default, or you can activate the shuffle
switch on the inside of the right earpiece to randomize playback. The bottom
edge of the right module contains the remainder of the controls: a volume
rocker and a jog dial. Swiping the dial forward or backward serves to cycle
through tracks.
8. Wire-free listening
Transform our active listening experience with the wire-free WALKMAN:
Sport Edition. Weighing an incredibly light 43g and designed to fit
comfortably and securely around our head, we'll barely notice it's there.
What you will appreciate is the clear and powerful sound delivered by
the 13.5mm EX Series earphones, which come with a choice of ear bud
sizes so we enjoy the best fit. The absence of trailing wires means no
more tangles, clips or armbands, just total freedom on the move. Now
we can really lose our self in the music, whether we're exercising in the
gym or running in all weathers.
9. Tracing out the Zappin sounds cape
Zappin playback can be set to either short or long excerpts, and each mode
gives a different impression. Short mode plays excerpts of about four
seconds each, which really does feel like you're enjoying a music countdown
program. Long mode plays 15-second excerpts, and this gives the impression
of listening to a DJ mix. Our aim was straightforward, but implementing it
required deft sound design involving simulations of the listening experience.
10. User Interface Design
With its user interface discussions underway, The designer team finally got
to work on industrial design. From the start, they sought a light, secure-
fitting player, integrated in headphones connected by a spiral neckband.
But it seemed as if something was missing, or they were taking
development the wrong way. They couldn't quell these nagging doubts. If
they continued along these lines.. People wouldn't sense the potential of
Zappin from the appearance. They were also concerned that it might be
unclear how to wear the headphones, because of the spiral neckband. If it's
true to the Walkman tradition, anyone should intuitively know how to wear
it correctly.