Hear Box – Portable Hearing Screening & Auditory Processing Assessment Station
This industrial design project for the Hear Box —a portable station for independent hearing screening and auditory processing disorder (APD) assessment—was developed for the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing. The work was part of the “Hear Box Adaptive Screening and Diagnostic System” project, funded under the Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020.
General Design Assumptions
Product Description:
The Hear Box station is designed for independent hearing screenings based on automatic threshold detection algorithms and self-administered auditory processing assessments. The testing process is supported by active noise cancellation (ANC) algorithms, enabling reliable screenings in public spaces. The implementation of the ANC interface significantly reduces the false-positive rate to below 5%.
Key Product Features:
- Non-stigmatizing design for people with disabilities.
- Easy access to all components for the user, medical personnel, and service technicians.
- Easy to clean and disinfect; resistant to UV radiation and chemical agents.
- The design maintains an economically justified ratio between implementation costs and serial production unit costs.
A priority of the industrial design process was adhering to sustainability principles by limiting the use of plastics and environmentally “expensive” materials. The applied stylistic measures aim to create a standout product in its class, strengthening the brand identity of an institution that recognizes the strategic importance of industrial design.
Scope of Design Work
Full industrial and technical documentation was prepared. The complete design process and authorial supervision over production implementation were conducted by the WÓJCIK DESIGN team together with partners.
Innovative Design Solutions
The Hear Box is designed as a mobile cart with an electrically height-adjustable column and a composite console featuring an integrated, replaceable diagnostic module. The station is fully accessible to wheelchair users and accommodates individuals ranging from 120 cm to 190 cm in height, offering a 60 cm adjustment range.
For transport, the diagnostic console can be detached from the cart using a dedicated key. The diagnostic module (including the audiometer and headphones) is screw-mounted and can be removed for servicing.
The device housing is a monocoque structure made of polyester-glass composite with variable wall thickness, ensuring high rigidity and impact resistance. This solution eliminates the need for an internal metal load-bearing frame. In addition to ergonomics and small-batch production requirements, the design minimizes the supply chain. Furthermore, the monitor housing was engineered to accommodate different screen models and sizes.
Achieved Design Effect
The final construction meets all requirements set by the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing. Hear Box expands the Institute’s family of diagnostic products. This station provides the valuable capability of self-administered hearing assessments, which is particularly crucial given the current limited access to specialized medical services.
YEAR
2023
