hearing aids for everyone

There's a great article over at Wired News about new devices for enhancing hearing for people with normal hearing. It's a concept so obvious, it's a wonder people are only starting to think about it. As the article points out:

"Today, every second person seems to be listening to music on an iPod, chatting on a mobile phone or scribbling on a PDA," she said. "What if you could really control and play with the way you hear? There are so many possibilities."

Indeed, people weart sunglasses even when they don't need them. The article mentions several possibilities for hearing enhancing devices. I hate noisy situations like bars and loud parties so I can hardly wait for a cool looking earpiece that allows me to concentrate on the conversation right in front of me.