Headphones designed to save your life from reckless drivers

Dr. Xiaofan (Fred) Jiang’s lab, at the Data Science Institute of Columbia University, has a scenic view of the Hudson River and easy access to busy streets where he can test his latest invention — smart headphones that warn pedestrians of road dangers. 

Small circuit boards sit on a gray table covered with mathematical equations written in pencil. They're specifically engineered for different versions of the prototype — the latest of which is a modified pair of $10 overhead headphones Jiang ordered from Amazon. The idea, he said, is to build parts that can one day be integrated into mass-market headphones. Read more...