Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/439814
C o n s u m e r E l e c t ro n i c s D a i l y N e ws M o n d a y, J a n u a r y 5 , 2 0 1 5 1 8 ENJOY PERSONAL AUDIO TECHNOLOGY WITH A FOCUS ON SAFETY An interview with Paul Farrell, Associate Director of Audiology Professional Practices, American Speech-Language- Hearing Association. CEDN: What is the risk of listening too loudly to personal audio technology? PF: Sounds can be harmful when they are too loud, even for a brief time, or when they are both loud and long-last- ing. These sounds can damage sensi- tive structures in the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Hearing loss can greatly affect the quality of life. Unmanaged hearing loss can have an impact on employment, education and general well-being. With children, it is espe- cially important to diagnose and treat hearing loss as early as possible. This can limit its potential impact on learn- ing and development. CEDN: How can you tell if you're lis- tening to technology at unsafe levels and causing hearing damage? PF: Noise-induced hearing loss is usually painless and happens over a period of time. If someone speaking to you must raise their voice to be heard, it's too loud. You may be experiencing hearing loss if speech around you sounds muffled or dull after you leave a noisy area, you have difficulty under- standing someone who is an arm's length away, or you have pain, ringing or buzzing in your ears. CEDN: How can parents ensure that their children use personal audio technol- ogy safely? PF: Whether it's an MP3 player, gaming device, cell phone, lap- top or another device that your child uses with headphones, don't over- look the potential health risk of hearing loss from misuse of technology. When listening with headphones, keep the volume down. A good guide is half volume. Limit listening time, give your hearing "quiet breaks" every 30 minutes, and model these good listening habits for your children. Visit American Speech-Language- Hearing Association at booth #74135. For more information, go to www.asha.org, email pfarrell@asha.org or call 301-296-5792. SONY SETTLES WITH FTC Sony Computer Entertainment America has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived consumers with false advertising claims about the "game changing" technologi- cal features of its PlayStation Vita handheld gaming console during its U.S. launch campaign in late 2011 and early 2012. As part of its settlement with the FTC, Sony is barred from making simi- larly misleading advertising claims in the future, and will provide consumers who bought a PS Vita gaming console before June 1, 2012, either a $25 cash or cred- it refund, or a $50 merchandise voucher for select video games, and/or services. Sony will provide notice via email to consumers who are eligible for redress after the settlement is finalized by the Commission. As part of its launch campaign for the PS Vita, Sony claimed that the pock- et-sized console would revolutionize gaming mobility by enabling consumers to play their PlayStation 3 games via "remote play," and that they could engage in "cross platform" play by start- ing a game on a PS3 and then continuing it on the go, right where they left off, on a PS Vita. The FTC alleges that each of these claims was misleading. In a related action, the Commission charged that Deutsch LA, Sony's adver- tising agency for the PS Vita launch, knew or should have known that the advertisements it produced contained misleading claims about the console's cross platform and 3G capabilities. The FTC also alleges that Deutsch LA further misled consumers by urging its employees to create awareness and excitement about the PS Vita on Twitter, without instructing employees to disclose their connection to the advertising agency or its then-client Sony. Under a separate settlement order, Deutsch LA is barred from such conduct in the future. The PS Vita is a handheld gaming console that Sony first sold in the United States in February 2012 for about $250. Unlike the PS3, which allows con- sumers to play video games on a televi- sion, the PS Vita is a portable device that enables gamers to play "on the go," untethered to a television screen.