| Grab a pair of headphones, attach a microphone and | | | | need to communicate with their teammates in the |
| you'll have in your hands a headset. The functionality | | | | command center while maintaining simultaneous |
| of a telephone with the added benefit of hands-free | | | | contact with those "out in the field". |
| operation is a headset's chief characteristic. Generally | | | | "Over the head" headsets employ a headband which |
| speaking, a typical headset includes an attached, | | | | is worn over the user's head. "Behind the neck" |
| single speaker for talking into and a pair of earphones | | | | headsets, also known as "back wear", feature a band |
| for listening. Although headsets are used for | | | | which is placed over the back of the user's neck |
| commonplace yet vital communications jobs, such as | | | | instead. In my opinion, this can give the behind the |
| in corporate call centers, they also play a pivotal role | | | | neck headset an unusual but modern appearance. |
| in many extraordinary and exciting jobs such as in | | | | Some headsets are also convertible which are |
| the aeronautics, military, airline and television | | | | customizable to the user's wearing preference. |
| industries. | | | | Headsets used with computers are available with two |
| The headset was invented about one hundred years | | | | different types of connections, 3.5 mm and USB. The |
| ago by Nathaniel Baldwin. It wasn't until World War 1, | | | | 3.5mm type has two connectors, one of which plugs |
| however, that headsets broke into mainstream use. | | | | into the computer's "line in" of the microphone jack |
| Early models were used by the U.S. Army and Navy | | | | while the other connector plugs into the "line out" of |
| while subsequent models began to find their way into | | | | the computer's speaker jack. A USB headset simply |
| the nascent airline industry. Probably the most | | | | plugs into the USB port of the computer. Today, the |
| famous use of a headset was when astronaut Neil | | | | headset trend is rapidly moving towards the wireless |
| Armstrong communicated his famous "one giant leap | | | | realm. The different types of wireless headsets |
| for mankind" line while taking his first moonwalk. | | | | include 2.4 GHZ headsets, DECT headsets and the |
| "Monaural" headsets are those with one earpiece | | | | ubiquitous Bluetooth headsets though Bluetooth |
| while those with two earpieces can either be | | | | headsets are mainly used with cell phones. |
| classified as being "stereo" or "binaural". A stereo | | | | Personally, when using a headset with my computer, |
| headset has one audio channel signal for each | | | | I prefer a wireless usb headset because they are |
| earpiece; binaural headsets split the audio channel and | | | | "plug and play" meaning that it is not necessary to |
| send it to both earpieces. Speaking from my | | | | install an additional sound card into the computer. All |
| television broadcasting experience, I enjoy using | | | | you need to do is connect the supplied usb |
| monaural (single earpiece) headsets which allow me | | | | connector into the usb port on your computer. Their |
| to communicate with my production team on the | | | | normal response range typically falls within 100Hz to |
| studio floor while keeping one ear free for | | | | 8kHz which is quite sufficient for capturing your |
| communicating with personnel inside the master | | | | every word. |
| control room. This is a common set-up for those who | | | | |