The surprisingly colourful history of wireless headsets (2024)

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The surprisingly colourful history of wireless headsets? ›

Until the early 50's, these headsets were simply a pair of headphones. Then in 1951, Herbert “Mac” McClelland, fabricated a wireless microphone to be worn by baseball umpires at major league games. These two technologies combined would lead to the headsets we have today.

The first wireless headphones were released decades before Bluetooth. In the 1960s, multiple manufacturers offered solid state radio headphones that enabled you to listen to radio while looking a bit like one of the Cybermen from Doctor Who. Headphone design really evolved during this period.

The first Bluetooth device was revealed in 1999. It was a hands-free mobile headset that earned the "Best of show Technology Award" at COMDEX. The first Bluetooth mobile phone was the unreleased prototype Ericsson T36, though it was the revised Ericsson model T39 that actually made it to store shelves in June 2001.

In 2015, a Japanese company called Onkyo produced the first truly wireless earbuds. They created the first pair and launched them in September 2015, dubbed the "Onkyo W800BT".

Nathaniel Baldwin invented headphones in 1910. With the US Navy's guidance, Baldwin's final design consisted of two sound receivers, each containing a mile of copper wiring, attached to the operator's headband. This design was the foundation for electricity-free telephones used in World War II.

With Bluetooth eavesdropping, invasion of privacy has morphed into snooping on steroids. Now, hackers can actually listen in on your conversations by gaining access to your Bluetooth devices such as your cellphone or your car audio system.

Back in the early 1890s, headphones were single-sided, heavy speakers that people would hold on to an ear to communicate. This later evolved into something known as an 'Electrophone'. It was a system consisting of a stethoscope-shaped headphone connected to a switchboard.

The brainchild of Nathaniel Baldwin, a Stanford University student credited with inventing a whole host of electrical devices, the headset was originally a flop.

1999: The First Bluetooth Device

The first ever consumer Bluetooth device was a hands-free mobile headset that launched in 1999. That same year, the first Bluetooth specification, 1.0, was launched alongside, allowing for release of many other wireless devices.

Today's wireless headsets can be considered an updated version of the technology developed for astronauts by the space agency. Before then, the headsets used by airplane pilots were bulky and uncomfortable. That is why NASA commissioned a headset that could fit inside an astronaut's helmet while not being too heavy.

What is the oldest headphone brand? ›

One of the earliest companies to make headphones for wireless operators was the Holtzer-Cabot Company in 1909. They were also makers of head receivers for telephone operators and normal telephone receivers for the home. Another early manufacturer of headphones was Nathaniel Baldwin.

Moving into the jet age of the 1960s, the Koss headphone developed a more future-forward, high-tech look, with broader headbands, radio dials, and noise-blocking cups reminiscent of fighter pilots' headgear.

It wasn't until 1937 that the first pair of dynamic headphones for home use was invented by the German company BayerDynamic. However, in 1958 John Koss invented the first ever stereo headphones, the Koss SP-3, as a jazz lover he was tired of using the low-quality headphones used by radio operators.

It wasn't until a French engineer filed a patent in 1891 for a lightweight and comfortable earbud-style headphone that the design started to resemble what we know today. In 1895, the first civilian broadcast headphones emerged, allowing people to enjoy live music and information from the comfort of their homes.

Unfortunately, many large audio tech companies collect personal data to some extent, though none seem as extreme as Soul Electronics. Most companies only collect the basic data that you provide, like your name and address. That said, there was one major company that collects a bit more: Bose.

Can Wireless Headphones be Tracked? Yes, wireless headphones can be tracked. If you have a pair of wireless headphones and lose them, you can use a phone or tablet to find them. There are a few different ways to do this, depending on the type of device you have and the features it offers.

While some devices use a level of Bluetooth encryption that can protect your devices and data, others operate on open frequencies. If hackers can intercept (or hack) your connection, they can also intercept data (such as passwords and credit card numbers), take over your devices, or spy on you.

Log in . Bluetooth doesn't use data, but instead uses short-range radio waves to connect devices. You can use Bluetooth devices even if you don't have cellular service or an internet connection. If you think that your Bluetooth connection is using data, it's more likely that an app you're using is the culprit.