Client: Herb Harmison Faculty Advisor: Edwin C. Jones Jr ...seniord.ece.iastate.edu/projects/archive/dec0310/Project plan.pdf · Hassan Javed Qureshi Hamdan A K A Al-Mehrezi Trong

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Client: Herb Harmison

Faculty Advisor: Edwin C. Jones Jr.

Team Members:Hassan Javed Qureshi

Hamdan A K A Al-MehreziTrong Ha Do

Nathan Cory Veen

February 25, 2003

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Introductory Materials

AbstractAdvancements in circuit design and electrical devices, like microphones, have moldedmodern hearing aids to become smaller and better attuned to an individual’s needs.Along with these advancements has come a hefty price to pay for hearing aids. Figure 1below shows a variety of hearing aids available today.

Figure 1: Expensive hearing aids available today

Many people cannot afford the high cost of these devices and will struggle through lifetrying to hear the noises around them. Many people also shy away from hearing aidsbecause society today views them as a major fault unlike eyeglasses. Producing aneffective, acceptable, and inexpensive hearing aid is the goal of this design team. Thehearing aid device will resemble that of a CD player, MP3 player, or a cell phone with awire connect earpiece and microphone, devices that are accepted in our society today.The approach will be to first design the necessary circuit, then to test the circuit andimplement a design to coincide with standards in today’s society, and finally demonstrateour alternative lower cost hearing aid. The hearing aid device will help many whostruggle with hearing loss because they cannot afford the cost of advanced hearing aiddevices.

AcknowledgementHerb Harmison, the client for this senior design project, has and will continue to becontributing to this project through technical advice and general feedback. ProfessorEdwin Jones Jr. is the faculty advisor for this project and will be providing technicaladvice and general feedback.



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Problem StatementThe general problem is to develop a hearing aid device that will be affordable anddesigned to be acceptable in today’s society. Due to the inexpensive nature of our deviceand the difference in hearing ability, the hearing aid will have to be able to adjust to eachuser. Incorporating controls for volume levels, frequency ranges, and the effective rangeof the microphone into the main unit will provide this flexibility. Finding quality, yetcheap and fashionable, headphones and microphones with an acceptable frequencyresponse will require research and testing. A battery source to run the unit must also beincorporated into the main unit that will be long lasting but not make the main unituncomfortable to wear due to the weight of the battery.

The general solution and approach to developing a low cost hearing aid device will be tofirst understand how the ears function and work. Determining the capabilities of the earand the best operating levels for the ear will set the foundation for determining whatcomponents will be used in the hearing aid device. Once these factors are determined,the hearing aid device can be built to meet amplification specifications, the frequencyranges, and the microphone range. Incorporating a fashionable headphone andmicrophone design will mean developing ways to attach these parts to materials that areworn everyday, like connecting the headphones to an individual’s eyeglasses. To keepthe unit at a comfortable weight, small batteries will be used as the power source. To testfor acceptability, one group member has a friend and another has a grandmother that hasnoticeable hearing loss. These individuals would be great for testing the hearing aid.

Operating EnvironmentThe hearing aid device will be able to function in numerous conditions. The optimal areafor use will be inside because elements like wind, people talking, and traffic noise willnot be picked up by the microphone(s). The unit will still work outside but could beaffected by various noises. The unit will work in dusty conditions and in extreme coldand hot climates, like that of Iowa. The device should not be thrown or dropped; doingso could loosen connections and components inside.

Intended User(s) and Intended Use(s)

The intended user for the low cost hearing aid will be for both men and women of anyage. The majority of users will be over the age of 50 that have experienced noticeablehearing loss. The headphones could possibly be able to connect to a person’s eyeglassesfor more convenience when wearing. The user will need to be able to read directions forcontrolling the volume, frequency ranges, and microphone levels.

The hearing aid device’s intended use is to aid those with noticeable hearing loss inseveral environments. These environments include daily conversations inside or outside,



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watching movies at the theater or television at home, or listening to a message or speech.In general this device will improve the performance of an individuals hearing.

Assumptions and LimitationsThe following is a list of assumptions:

• Wires will connect the headphones and microphones to the main unit.• The user will be able to adjust volume, frequency, and microphone intensity.• The hearing aid will have stereo sound.• Primarily elderly people that wear eyeglasses will use the device.• The microphones could be attached or free standing, depending on situation.

The following is a list of limitations:

• The main unit should weigh around 5 oz. (client requirement)• The hearing aid device should cost in the range of $100 - $200. (client

requirement)• Use analog technology because digital technology could be too expensive.• The main unit will be around 5 x 2 x 1 inches in size.• The decision to use one or two microphones in the circuit design to create the

stereo output.

Expected End Product and OtherDeliverables

The expected end product will include the main unit where the circuit, controls, andbattery will be located. Headphones and microphones will connect to this main unit viawires. The headphones will be designed to attach to eyeglasses for easier wearing andthe microphones will be able to attach to clothing. Figure 2 below provides schematic ofthe basic end product.

Main hearing aid unit

Headphones MicrophonesBattery and controls



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Figure 2: The basic components of the hearing aid designThe team members will conduct a test to help the user set the levels of the volume and thedifferent frequency ranges. A user’s manual will also be delivered with the end product,which will contain the products specifications, instructions, and technical supportinformation.

Proposed Approach and Statement of Work

Proposed ApproachThis section will cover all the issues of our approach towards the project. It involvesrequirements, different considerations, management issues and the proposed milestones.

Functional requirements

The main goal of this project is to build a hearing aid with the newest technology,keeping within the limit of the budget. The end product will perform the followingfunctions:

• It should amplify the normal sound to a certain level, which would be audible forthe user. The audible sound depends upon the user requirements and differs fromuser to user.

• It must include an on- off switch. The purpose of this switch is to switch on andoff the aid, depending on the user’s requirement.

• Adjustments can be made to the volume. If sounds are soft, the user can "turn up"the volume control. If sounds are loud, the user may "turn down" the volumecontrol.

• It will consist of adjustable controls mounted onto the main case of the hearingaid device for controlling the amplification (i.e., general loudness) andfrequency/tonality response (i.e., amount of bass, mid-range or treble emphasis).It is recommended that a health care professional should be consulted whensetting these controls for the first time because improper use could case seriousdamage to a users hearing. The user has the option to purchase and use anauxiliary tone generator, which would allow that user to set these controls.However, these settings will not be as precise and as accurate as seeing aprofessional.

Constraint considerations

The following are some of the constraints that will be faced in this project:



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• Size limitations: Construct a moderate size aid (5 x 2 x 1 inches), keeping in viewthe client’s requirements and fashion market.

• Weight: Product would be light in weight (5 oz.) for the convenience of the client.• Easy to Use: The audiologist will adjust part of the circuit and the other half will

be by the user. This makes it really easy to use.• Stereo: This feature is the main requirement of the client. It will help the user to

hear the sounds from open environment, as real as they could be.• Fashion and technology: This project will be the combination of latest technology

and fashion.• Precautions: The hearing aid may not be able to work if exposed to the rain or

snow.

Technology considerations

The use of analog technology will probably be the basis for the circuitry. This technologyis more appropriate according to the needs of the client. Conventional hearing aids usethis technology of linear circuits.

Conventional hearing aids are the basic type of hearing instruments. A conventional (ortraditional) hearing aid is different from a programmable analog aid because a computerprogram does not easily adjust the sound of the instrument. A conventional aid isdifferent from a digital aid because it has an analog circuit.

Technical approach considerations

The approach towards accomplishing the goals in this project is divided into thefollowing categories:

• Research and surveys: This is the necessary part of every project as it gives theinsight view of different components and their functions. Acquiring the bestcomponents while staying within the limit of the budget will be the goal.

• Collection of materials: Following are some of the components that are needed inthis project:

1. Headphones2. Amplifiers3. Battery4. Microphones

Collecting them from different vendors is the part of this project.• Prototyping and simulation: Build the project according to the prototype, as this

is the most appropriate approach to do any project. Then simulate different partsturn be turn.

• Testing: At the end, simulate the whole project and check its performance. This isthe final part of the project.



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Testing requirements considerations

Several family members and friends will be asked to test the hearing aid device upon thecompletion. The test will be based on the functionality of the controls, the quality ofhearing, the design, and on how comfortable the user is in wearing the device.

Testing of each component will be conducted in order to give the best output.

Testing of headphones: Different headphones from different vendors will be tested. Theone that gives the best performance will be selected.

Testing of microphones: The most suitable microphone according to the requirements ofthe client will be used and tested.

Testing of amplifiers: The amplifier plays the main role in the whole circuitry andtherefore is the main part of the project. The required amplifier will be tested with thehelp of some device.

Testing of battery: The long-life battery will be used after testing.

Testing of the whole project: After completion of the project, it will be tested underdifferent circumstances. It will be tested thoroughly keeping in mind if it fulfills all therequirements of the client and gives the best result.

Security ConsiderationsThere are no security concerns that an outside competitor will gain knowledge of thisproject because the circuit is not overwhelmingly difficult and has been produced insimilar forms for various needs. There are no security considerations related to theoperation of the end product.

Intellectual Property considerationsMany of the devices that will be used in this design will be that of intellectual property.The headphones, microphones, and many circuit components are produced already bycompanies and will need to be used according to their specifications. This will impactthe project because less design work will be incorporated, but more testing and researchwill be performed to find the most compatible components.



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Commercialization considerationsThe hearing aid design will have a nice comfortable shape that is lightweight (5 oz.). Thehearing aid will have good quality sound from affordable headphones and microphones atan affordable price

Possible risk and risk managementThere could be harmful effects to a person’s hearing if the product is not set at anappropriate volume level. The design will have cutoff volume that will not allow thesound to reach a level that could harm the users hearing more. Another risk would be theloss of a team member. In the event of this possibility, the remaining team memberswould make up for the lost member by distributing the lost members work evenly andwould meet as a group one more time than regular a week to discuss what the lossmembers work would have been for that week. The final problem risk is that the designof the hearing aid doesn’t work. In the event of this possibility, the team will work hardfirst to determine where in the design the error occurs, then conduct research tounderstand the error, and finally develop a design that corrects the error

Project proposed milestones and evaluation criteria

The milestones presented below will be evaluated based on the percent completed of eachtask. For each individual task to be called a success a value of 90% complete has beenchosen. This means that a percent of 90% complete of the overall project will produce asuccess. The following are the milestones for this project along with a percentage thatrepresents how much each task is out of the total project.

• Project definition: The main components of this task are defining the problem,uses and users, assumptions and limitations, functional requirements, andconstraint considerations. This task is 5% of the total. Completing 4.5% of thistask will be viewed as a success.

• Technology considerations and selection: The main components of this task areidentification of analog and digital technologies, identification of stereo andmono technologies, selection of components, and technology research. This taskis 20% of the total. Completing 18% will be viewed as a success.

• End-product design: The main components of this task are identification ofdesign requirements, design process, and documentation of design. This task is17% of the total. Completing 15.3% will be viewed as a success.

• End-product prototype implementation: The main component of this task is theimplementation of the prototype end product. This task is 8% of the total andcompleting 7.2% will be viewed as a success.



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• End-product testing: The main components of this task are test planning, actualtesting, and an evaluation of the results. This task is 10% of the total andcompleting 9% will be viewed as a success.

• End-product documentation: The main component of this task is to develop auser manual with support information. This task is 14% of the total andcompleting 12.6% will be viewed as a success.

• End-product demonstration: The main components of this task are demonstrationplanning, faculty advisor demonstration, client demonstration, and ademonstration for the industrial review panel. This task is 2% of the total andcompleting 1.8% will be viewed as a success.

• Project reporting: The main components of this task are the project plan, projectposter, design report, final report, and the weekly email reporting. This task is24% of the total and completing 21.6% will be viewed as a success.

Project tracking procedures

Using Microsoft Project to produce a schedule of the project will help the team meetproject requirements, keep the project on schedule, and keep the project within theproposed budget. Weekly meetings will be used to determine the progress of the team’sschedule and budget. If the project were to fall behind schedule a special meetingbetween the faculty advisor and team members would be called and the discussion wouldinclude where the project is at, where the project needs to be right now, and reallocatetime and effort to get the project to the appropriate stage. If the project were to exceedthe budget a special meeting between the course coordinator, client, faculty advisor, andteam members would be called and the discussion would include why the project is overbudget and possibilities for more funding. The information added to the program willinclude completeness percentages and task notes

Statement of WorkTask 1 – Problem Definition

The objective of this task is to define the subtasks listed below by consulting the client,faculty advisor, and the team members. The expected result will be data that defines theproblem, the uses and users, some assumptions and limitations, the functionalrequirements, and some constraints.

Subtask 1a – Problem Definition CompletionSubtask 1b – End User(s) and End Use(s) IdentificationSubtask 1c – Assumptions and Limitations IdentifiedSubtask 1d – Functional requirementsSubtask 1e – Constraint considerations

Task 2 – Technology Considerations and Selection



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The objective of this task is to research the needed components for the product designand to select the proper components that will provide the best sound quality and staywithin the budget limits. The approach of this task will be to perform research bysearching the web and visiting with local electrical consumers on prices andspecifications. The expected results will be to find and purchase the needed componentsto produce the best hearing aid device.

Subtask 2a – Identification of Analog and Digital TechnologiesSubtask 2b – Identification of Mono and Stereo TechnologiesSubtask 2c – Selection of componentsSubtask 2d – Technology Research

Task 3 – End-Product Design

The objective of this task is to produce a design for the hearing aid device that willperform well and have fashionable appeal. The approach of this task will be to identifythe design requirements and then design the hearing aid and document the design process.The expected result of this task is to have working design that also looks good to wear.

Subtask 3a – Identification of Design RequirementsSubtask 3b – Design ProcessSubtask 3c – Documentation of Design

Task 4 – End-Product Prototype Implementation

The objective of this task is to implement the prototype of the end product. The approachto this task is to take the designed hearing aid and check the functionality of the entiredevice. The expected result is a prototype hearing aid that inputs a signal through themicrophone and outputs an amplified signal through the headphones with the ability tochange volume level and the frequency ranges.

Subtask 4a – Implementation of Prototype End Product

Task 5 – End-Product Testing

The objective of this task is to build a structured plan to test the hearing aid and then testthe device and provide an evaluation of the results from the test. The approach of thistask will be to build a checklist of testing criteria. Individuals that have noticeablehearing loss will be chosen to test the device and will provide the team with feedback ontheir thoughts. The expected result of this task will be a working design that helpsindividuals with noticeable hearing loss to hear better and provide a fashionable devicethat will be worn.

Subtask 5a – Test PlanningSubtask 5b – Actual Testing



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Subtask 5c – Evaluation of Results

Task 6 – End-Product Documentation

The objective of this task is to produce a user manual for operating the hearing aiddevice. The approach of this task will be to write the manual as a group and provide theuser with support information in case of questions. The expected result of this task willbe a document that is easy to follow and helps the user use the product more effectively.

Subtask 6a – Development of User Manual with support information

Task 7 – End-Product Demonstration

The objective of this task is to demonstrate the final product to numerous groups andindividuals. The approach will be to present the device by allowing those beingpresented to, to wear and use the device. Feedback from those that tested the device willalso be provided with their comments and suggestions and a list of improvements thathad been made from those comments. The expected result of this task will be successfuldemonstrations with satisfied clients and panels.

Subtask 7a – Demonstration PlanningSubtask 7b – Faculty Advisor DemonstrationSubtask 7c – Client DemonstrationSubtask 7d – Industrial Review Panel Demonstration

Task 8 – Project Reporting

The objective of this task is to document ideas and plans in the form of a plan and poster.Reports will also be included to document progress and results. The approach will be tosplit work up evenly between the team members for each subtask and then construct thefinal result together. The expected result of this task is to have quality plans, posters, andreports that represent our product and group well.

Subtask 8a – Project PlanSubtask 8b – Project PosterSubtask 8c – Design ReportSubtask 8d – Final ReportSubtask 8e – Weekly Email Reporting



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Estimated Resource Requirement

The project shall proceed by keeping in mind the following estimated resourcesrequirements: personal effort requirements, other resource requirements, and financialrequirements.

Personnel effort requirements

The following table shows the estimated personal effort of each individual correspondingto each task. The eight-step approach towards completion of the project shall befollowed.

Table 1: Personal effort requirements

PersonnelName

Task1

Task2

Task3

Task4

Task5

Task6

Task7

Task8

Totals

Qureshi,HassanJaved

12 21 18 10 12 14 4 23 114

Veen,NathanCory

13 24 17 11 10 15 5 20 115

Cory, DoTrong

12 20 19 9 10 12 4 21 107

A K AAL-Mehrazi,Hamdan

14 23 18 10 11 13 5 20 114

Totals 51 88 72 40 43 54 18 84 450

The project shall be broken down into eight main tasks. These eight tasks are:

Task 1 ----------à Problem definitionTask 2 ----------à Technology and implementation considerationTask 3 ----------à End product designTask 4 ----------à End product prototype implementationTask 5 ----------à End product testingTask 6 ----------à End product documentationTask 7 ----------à End product demonstrationTask 8 ----------à Project reporting

The details for each individual task are already explained in statement of work.



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Other resource requirements

Resources for the different components of the project and the printing of the poster are asimportant as the personnel effort of team members. The resource requirements for thisproject are given in the following table.

Table 2: Required resources

ItemTeamHours

OtherHours Cost

Printing of Project Poster 10 0 $50.00Microphone (2) 0 0 $30.00Headphone (2) 0 0 $10.00Amp (2) 0 0 $10.00Batteries 0 0 $6.00Hearing aid case 0 0 $10.00Switches (3) including selector switch 0 0 $15.00Totals 10 0 $131.00

Financial requirements

The main constraint of the project is the limited budget to work with. Microphones,headphones, and amplifiers can be very costly because of their individual objectives andspecifications. In order to stay within the budget vast research will be conducted to selectthe appropriate components that will fulfill the requirements of the client by producingquality sound for a reasonable cost. The estimated cost for this project is given below.

Table 3: Estimated cost of projectItem W/O Labor With LaborParts and materialsPrinting of Project Poster $50.00 $50.00Microphone (2) $30.00 $30.00Headphone (2) $10.00 $10.00Amp (2) $10.00 $10.00Batteries $6.00 $6.00Hearing aid case $10.00 $10.00Switches (3) including selectorswitch $15.00 $15.00

Subtotal $131.00 $131.00

Labor at $11.00 per hourQURESHI HASSAN JAVED $1,265.00VEEN NATHAN CORY $1,210.00DO TRONG CORY $1,265.00HAMDAN A K A AL-MEHREZI $1,210.00

Subtotal $4,950.00

Total $5,081.00



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Schedules

1st Semester

The success of most of the project depends upon the completion of each task in the timeallocated. Following the same approach to accomplish the goals towards the completionof the project will lead to success for the team. Step-by-step technique shall be followedkeeping in mind the factor of short span of time. The following schedules are divided intotwo parts: semester 1 and semester 2. The Gantt charts given below show the tasks andthe associated subtasks versus the proposed project calendar.

Figure 3: Gantt chart for semester 1



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The following table is the time line for this project taken from each semester’s schedule.

Table 4: Time line for project

1st Semester

Project Definition 13 days Mon 2/17/03 through Wed 3/5/03Project Definition Completion 6 days Mon 2/17/03 through Mon 2/24/03End User(s) End use(s) 4 days Tue 2/25/03 through Fri 2/28/03Constraint Identification 3 days Mon 3/3/03 through Wed 3/5/03

Technology Considerations 32 days Tue 2/25/03 through Wed 4/9/03Identification of Technologies 9 days Tue 2/25/03 through Fri 3/7/03Identification of Criteria 8 days Mon 3/10/03 through Wed 3/19/03Technology Research 13 days Thu 3/20/03 through Mon 4/7/03Technology Selection 2 days Tue 4/8/03 through Wed 4/9/03

End-Product Design 22 days Thu 4/10/03 through Fri 5/9/03Identification of Requirements 4 days Thu 4/10/03 through Tue 4/15/03Design Process 10 days Wed 4/16/03 through Tue 4/29/03Document Design 8 days Wed 4/30/03 through Fri 5/9/03

2nd Semester

Prototype Implementation 11 days Mon 8/25/03 through Mon 9/8/03Identification of Limitations 4 days Mon 8/25/03 through Thu 8/28/03Implementation of Prototype 7 days Fri 8/29/03 through Mon 9/8/03

End-Product Testing 15 days Tue 9/9/03 through Mon 9/29/03Test Planning 5 days Tue 9/9/03 through Mon 9/15/03Actual Testing 6 days Tue 9/16/03 through Tue 9/23/03Results Evaluation 4 days Wed 9/24/03 through Mon 9/29/03

End-Product Documentation 17 days Tue 9/30/03 through Wed 10/22/03End-user Documentation 9 days Tue 9/30/03 through Fri 10/10/03Maintenance Documentation 8 days Mon 10/13/03 through Wed 10/22/03

End-Product Demonstration 11 days Thu 10/23/03 through Thu 11/6/03Demonstration Planning 5 days Thu 10/23/03 through Wed 10/29/03Faculty Advisor(s) Demonstration 2 days Thu 10/30/03 through Fri 10/31/03Industrial Review Panel Demonstration 4 days Mon 11/3/03 through Thu 11/6/03

Project Reporting 25 days Fri 11/7/03 through Thu 12/11/03Project Plan 7 days Fri 11/7/03 through Mon 11/17/03Project Poster 11 days Tue 11/18/03 through Tue 12/2/03Design Report 7 days Wed 12/3/03 through Thu 12/11/03Final Report 10 days Fri 11/7/03 through Thu 11/20/03Weekly Email Reporting 1 days Fri 11/7/03 through Fri 11/7/03

The first task is the project definition. This includes coming to know about the project, itsuses and users, and constraints to be faced in accomplishing the project. The users of theproject are people who have a hearing impairment; uses are to help those people to listenlike a normal person. The constraints are the period of development is short and thelimited budget. The approximate time given to this task is 13 days.

The second task is the technology and implementation consideration and selection. Thisincludes the identification of different technologies that could be used in approaching thegoals, identification of criteria for each technology, technology research, and thetechnology selection that gives the final selected technology to be used. The time given isalmost 32 days.



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The third task is the end product design. This includes the identification of requirementsthat the customer wants in the project, design process, and the document design. Themain goal of this task is to design the end product. Estimated time given to this task is 22days.

The fourth task is the end product prototype implementation. This involves theidentification of limitations and implementation of prototype. Main goal in this task is toimplement the prototype keeping in mind the limitations. The time given to this task is 11days approximately.

The fifth task is to test the end product. This consists of three steps. First step is the testplanning, which means coming up with the plan to test the end product, second step is theactual testing, and the last step is the results evaluation. Almost 15 days are allocated forthis task.

The sixth task is the documentation of the end product. This is further divided into twocategories. One is the end-user documentation and the other is the maintenancedocumentation. Seventeen days are allocated for this task.

The seventh task is the demonstration of the end product. This involves the planning ofthe demonstration and actually demonstrating in front of the faculty advisor and theindustrial review panel. This task is allocated 11 days.

The last task is the project reporting. This involves• Project plan• Project poster• Design report• Final report• Weekly Email reporting

This reporting work is a continuous process and is estimated to take 25 days.

2nd Semester

The project will be mainly focused on end-product design, prototype implementation,end-product testing, end-product documentation, demonstration and project reporting inthe second semester. The details of each of these tasks are already discussed under tasksof first semester. The Gantt chart for the second semester is given below.



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Figure 4: Gantt chart for semester 2



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Closure Materials

The following section contains contact information for the client, faculty advisor, and allthe team members. A brief closing summary is also included to restate the importantpoints of this project.

Project Team InformationEach member of this team is listed below with the appropriate contact information.

CLIENT:

Name: HERB HARMISONUS Postal mailing address: 2692 Meadow Glen Road, Ames, IA 50014Telephone number: 515-292-7059Fax: 515-292-7059Email Address: [email protected]

FACULTY ADVISOR:

Name: EDWIN C JONES JR.Office Address: 2216 COOVERUS Postal Mailing address: 111 HUNZIKER CIR, AMES, IA 50010-5022Office Telephone number: 515-294-4962Home Telephone number: 515-232-1573Fax Telephone number: 515-294-3637E-mail Address [email protected]

TEAM MEMBERS:

Name: NATHAN CORY VEENMajor: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERINGUS Postal Address: 1324 FREDERIKSEN CT, AMES, IA 50010Email Address: [email protected]

Name: TRONG HA DOMajor: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERINGUS Postal Address: 1435 22ND ST, DES MOINES, IA 50311Email Address: [email protected]



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Name: HASSAN JAVED QURESHIMajor: COMPUTER ENGINEERINGUS Postal Address: 247 N SHELDON AVE #25, AMES IA 50014Email Address: [email protected]

Name: HAMDAN A K A AL-MEHREZIMajor: COMPUTER ENGINEERINGUS Postal Address: 2516 ASPEN RD #10, AMES, IA 50010Email Address: [email protected]

Closing SummaryThe most common cause of hearing loss occurs because of the natural aging process. Justlike hair thins and gets gray, and eyes lose fine focus, hair cells in the inner ear weaken,break and grow unresponsive with age. The second leading cause of hearing loss isexposure to noise. Loud machinery at home or at work can damage the body’s ability tohear—even short bursts of sound over 90 decibels can have an impact. Everyday life isfilled with noise that cannot be controlled: in military or factory environments, fromairplanes, subway trains, and traffic sounds. There is also plenty of noise that cancontrolled like rock concerts, loud cheering at sporting events, and the use of power toolsaround the house, but are ignored to cause hearing loss.

“Currently over 28 million Americans are hearing impaired, and the number is expectedto grow rapidly as the population ages (Beckman Institute, University of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign). If hearing loss becomes a problem in someone’s life, a hearing aidshould be considered. Using a hearing aid requires less strain on the body by providingthe user with a better understanding of the surroundings and circumstances.

Although modern hearing aids have become smaller and better attuned to an individual’sneeds, they also have become much more expensive. Many people cannot afford the highcost of state-of-the-art hearing aids. By that reason, the team will find another way todesign a new modern aid, which has the quality of sound at a lower cost. The design willhave good sound quality that is adjustable to meet the needs of each individual user witha nice shape that people can hide and be comfortable wearing.

References

Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . 2000.<http://hearingaid.beckman.uiuc.edu/>



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Table of Contents

List of Figures................................................................................................................ iiList of Tables ................................................................................................................. iiiList of Definitions ......................................................................................................... iv

Introductory Materials ........................................................................... 1Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 1Acknowledgement......................................................................................................... 1Problem Statement ........................................................................................................ 2Operating Environment................................................................................................. 2Intended User(s) and Intend Use(s).............................................................................. 2Assumptions and Limitations ....................................................................................... 3Expected End Product and Other Deliverables ........................................................... 3

Proposed Approach and Statement of Work ...................................... 4Proposed Approach ....................................................................................................... 4

Functional requirements ............................................................................................ 4Constraint considerations............................................................................................ 4Technology considerations ......................................................................................... 5Technical approach considerations ............................................................................ 5Testing requirements considerations.......................................................................... 6Security considerations ............................................................................................... 6Intellectual property considerations ........................................................................... 6Commercialization considerations ............................................................................. 7Possible risks and risk management........................................................................... 7Project proposed milestones and evaluation criteria................................................. 7Project tracking procedures ........................................................................................ 8

Statement of Work......................................................................................................... 8

Estimated Resource Requirement ............................................................................ 11Personal effort requirements......................................................................................... 11Other resource requirements......................................................................................... 12Financial requirements.................................................................................................. 12

Schedules....................................................................................................................... 131st Semester .................................................................................................................... 132nd Semester ................................................................................................................... 16

Closure Materials ........................................................................................................ 17Project Team Information............................................................................................. 17Closing summary........................................................................................................... 18References...................................................................................................................... 18



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List of Figures

Figure 1: Expensive hearing aids available today p. 1

Figure 2: The basic components of the hearing aid design p. 3

Figure 3: Gantt chart for the 1st semester p. 13

Figure 4: Gantt chart for the 2nd semester p. 15

ii



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List of Tables

Table 1: Personal effort requirements p. 11

Table 2: Required resources p. 12

Table 3: Estimated cost of project p. 12

Table 4: Time line for project p. 14

iii



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List of Definitions

Amplifier – The main part of the internal circuitry to amplify the sound waves collectedfrom the microphone to some fixed level.

CD player – A device used to play compact discs.

Compact disc – A small optical disk usually containing recorded music or computer data

Headphone – A device that performs the opposite function as of microphone. It convertselectrical energy into sound after processing it from the intermediate circuit. It is locatednext to the ear.

Microphone – An instrument for intensifying and making audible very feeble sounds. Itis generally used for converting the sound waves to electrical energy that is furtherprocessed by the intermediate circuitry.

MP3 player – A device with which you can listen to music compressed using the mp3algorithm.

Stereo – Sound that has left and right properties to create the impression that sound iscoming from different locations.

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Documents

Client: Herb Harmison Faculty Advisor: Edwin C. Jones Jr ...seniord.ece.iastate.edu/projects/archive/dec0310/Project plan.pdf · Hassan Javed Qureshi Hamdan A K A Al-Mehrezi Trong