The client manufactures a range of conference sound re-enforcement systems. They identified an opportunity in international conferences where translations need to be available instantaneously and made direct to each listener in such a way that does not tie them to a fixed desk or location. The client had already established that infra red could transmit high quality sound and that several channels could operate simultaneously. The high quality wireless multichannel audio would also have other applications in relaying soundtracks in cinemas, museums, operas and churches.

The brief was to design a battery powered infra red receiver that was intuitive to use and small enough to fit in one hand, a shirt pocket or around the neck with a lanyard. The first task was to assess how users would want to hold and carry such a device by testing several block models based on known internal components. The user connects an earpice into a standard audio socket on the side and scrolls though the sixteen channels shown on the LCD to find the language they need. The concept was quickly approved and developed using CAD to manufacturing drawings and colour visuals.