--- Forwarded Message from Ed Dente <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 13:58:48 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Ed Dente <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5614 Headset health issues?
>In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum    <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
On Mon, 26 Jun 2000, LLTI-Editor wrote:

> --- Forwarded Message from "Jose C. Rodriguez" <[log in to unmask]> ---
> 
> >Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 12:31:10 -0400
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >From: "Jose C. Rodriguez" <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Headset health issues?
> 
> I am relatively new to this list, so forgive any recent duplication
> of this inquiry.
> 
> Our language lab is currently fitted with sound-out extensions so
> that students can bring in their own headphones to use in the lab and
> plug into these extensions. I am considering supplying
> headphones/headsets for each computer for this Fall. I have been told
> that there are health issues in sharing headsets. I can see where
> students may not want to use a pair of headphones after another
> student has used them, but is there really a "health" issue? Any
> experiences you've had with common use of headphones (pro or con)
> would be appreciated.
> 
> Many thanks,
> Jose

Note to Matthew and Ursula and others:
DON'T GO THERE! (i.e., earwigs, etc.)*grin*

Note to Jose,
A couple of years ago there was an extensive discussion of this issue. (It
is still available in the archives (Subject 3760, Sept/Oct 1997).
It dealt with this issue, sometimes in a vivid, graphic and
dramatic fashion. In the end, the consensus seemed to be that ordinary
periodic sanitary measures (i.e., Lysol) were all that was needed to keep
headsets ok. 
Of course, one would need to avoid ear bud type headsets. Sets w/ a
plastic cover rather than a foam base are probably preferable as well.
Cheers,
Ed
   "If you want to call me that, smile."
                    -Gary Cooper, <<The Virginian>>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edmund N. Dente
Director, Language Media Center    Ph: 617-627-3036
Tufts University                   [log in to unmask]
Medford, MA 02155