3D-printed quintile heads let designers test headphones across a population distribution.

Evidence

Statistical analysis of the HRTF dataset has identified the person closest to the average set referred to as ARCHIE (derived from archetype). Figure 15.6(b) is a photograph of several 3D-printed custom heads and pinnae. The four heads at the front represent the quintiles of the 350 humans in terms of the size and shapes of their heads and ears. Missing from the photograph is the average head ARCHIE. Each head can be equipped with different pinnae, microphones for measurements at the blocked entrance of the canal or an ear simulator for measurements at the DRP. The heads can be used for psychoacoustic experiments or to validate whether a headphone design has good reproducibility across a statistical distribution of heads and ears. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 1753

Categorization

• SEED: A design-validation approach where products are tested against statistical quintiles of users rather than one average user could be an essay angle on inclusive engineering.