
Tired of sorting out tangled earphone or headphone cords every time you want to take your MP3 player or iPod out for a musical walk? The innovative Y.I concept earphones employ a built-in zipper that keeps cords in order while adding some zip to your coolness quotient.
Y.I. earphones by designer Ji Woong are in the concept stage right now but the idea is so good, it's inevitable we'll be seeing it in the stores and on the streets as fast as you can zip your fly... and yes, that's a hint.
Woong's design addresses an issue that has plagued audio headphones from their earliest days: the twin cords tend to get entangled when they're being stored.
The problem became worse when modern materials like silicone plastics entered use, as earphone cords made from them seem to have a natural affinity for coiling up around one another. If there were only some way to keep this from happening, thought Woong as he toyed absently with his jacket zipper... hey, wait a minute!
Woong's Y.I. earphones are a design tour de force on a number of levels. First off, the zipper: unzip for use, zip up to store. You can also adjust the way the headphone cords hang by moving the zipper toggle up or down.

The zipper toggle itself cleverly incorporates the volume control. Twist the end to adjust your MP3 player volume and then, push the Volume Hold button to ensure you don't get blasted with sound every time you accidentally bump the toggle. (via DVice and Yanko Design)
Steve Levenstein
J A P A N O R A M A
InventorSpot.com
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want.
Submitted on April 26th, 2009 by Anonymouswant.
agreed
Submitted on April 27th, 2009 by Anonymousagreed
WOW
Submitted on May 3rd, 2009 by AnonymousYes, these had BETTER become available soon!
Win
Submitted on May 4th, 2009 by AnonymousDO.WANT.NOW
so cool!
Submitted on May 4th, 2009 by Anonymousso cool!
freaking
Submitted on May 4th, 2009 by Anonymousawesome
Whats the going price on
Submitted on May 4th, 2009 by AnonymousWhats the going price on them I want
Volume
Submitted on May 4th, 2009 by AnonymousHow does the volume control work?
DO WANT
Submitted on May 4th, 2009 by AnonymousDO WANT, WOULD FALCON PUNCH BABIES FOR THIS
Volume image added
Submitted on May 4th, 2009 by Steve LevensteinJust added an extra image showing how the volume adjust/lock function works. Hope this helps, and thanks for your interest! And yeah... I want these too.
How are you going to wire
Submitted on May 5th, 2009 by AnonymousHow are you going to wire the volume controls considering it moves up and down the earbud wires? Neat idea. I don't think the volume control will be able to be located like you have it.
Plus, when zipped up and shoved into a bag, they will still tangle themselves up. It'll just be one length of cord tangling up, rather then two. But they'll still tangle.
can you by these?/where?
Submitted on May 6th, 2009 by Anonymouscan you by these?/where?
Just a concept - for now
Submitted on May 6th, 2009 by Steve LevensteinAccording to DVice, "this is just a concept at this time, no price or availibility, but if real manufacturers are paying attention, maybe we'll actually see this hit the streets." Over to you, real manufacturers... if you build it, they will come.
A bit late... but I'm sure
Submitted on July 6th, 2009 by AnonymousA bit late... but I'm sure these are already out (not the exact same ones but...)
A lot of my friends already use them, and though they tangle, it's much easier to untangle than the normal ones.