These earbuds are all about bringing people together.
A new earbud design concept, called ‘more. than a bud,’ wants to change solo listening into a shared, social activity. Designed by Kusi Boateng-Arthur, these would let users instantly connect with each other and listen to the same audio by simply tapping the earbuds together.
How the Earbuds Work
“More. than a bud” introduces a new approach to music sharing. It uses a gesture-based interaction that is similar to earlier smartphone features for file transfers.
Just by tapping the earbuds together, users could easily share their music. This fits with the concept’s vision of making music a more communal experience.
Along with the instant music-sharing capability, the proposed earbuds have many impressive features.
They would have a battery life of up to 16 hours. This means users could enjoy uninterrupted audio throughout the day.
The earbuds would also include voice control, fast charging, music-sharing alerts, and a secure in-ear fit.
The Friends Radio feature takes shared playlists to the next level. It would let users listen to what their friends are enjoying in real-time. This would create a lively and connected audio experience.
The earbuds have a unique design. Two halves of a sphere would join together to form a complete sphere when not in use.
While the spherical shape of the earbuds is eye-catching, it also serves a purpose. The speaker inside each earbud would be angled at 30 degrees. This would make the sound’s path into the ear canal better for a clearer and more immersive audio experience.
To charge the earbuds, they would need to attach to opposite sides of a small puck. This would turn the shape into a capsule.
The “more. than a bud” earbuds would also offer onboard storage. This would let users upload their favorite playlists directly to the earbuds for phone-free listening. Users could enjoy uninterrupted music whether they are jogging in the park, commuting, or simply enjoying a moment alone.
Touch controls would also let users easily navigate through playlists and adjust volume. This would add to the overall convenience and user-friendliness of the device.
The Inspiration for the Design
The design philosophy behind “more. than a bud” draws inspiration from the Aslatua, a traditional Ghanaian percussion instrument known for its organic connection between two gourds that produce distinctive sounds when they come into contact.
One of the most striking features of the earbuds is the intentional use of a 30-degree speaker angle.
This angle, carefully selected to make sound spread better and improve audio quality, follows the lines found on the surface of the Aslatua.
By tilting the speaker at this specific angle, the earbuds ensure a more direct alignment with the ear canal, minimizing sound dispersion and maximizing clarity.
Bringing the Social Element Back to Music
Thanks to the widespread use of earbuds, sharing music in a public setting has become a thing of the past.
The “more. than a bud” concept is an attempt to address this issue. It would let you share your tunes with interested parties without subjecting others to unwanted noise.
Taking inspiration from the Aslatua, a Ghanaian percussion instrument that symbolizes community, the designers wanted to add a similar spirit of togetherness into the listening experience.
As the designer says: “Sharing a song allows individuals to know each other on a deeper level.”
The public sharing of music can be a complex issue for some.
For instance, on r/LetsTalkMusic, a poster shares how they feel they’ll be judged for their more niche music tastes.
This attitude is one that the “more. than a bud” earbuds aim to tackle. They want to make music sharing a less intimidating task by limiting it to interested parties.