OwnPhones are the world’s first custom-fit, 3D printed earbuds. You take a picture of your ear, send it in to them and they send you back a customized pair of Bluetooth enabled, technology overflowing, in-ear buds.

BRILLIANT! And this could be the last word and solution to irritating, bad-fitting workout headphones.

They have an app that you use to take a picture of your ear. After a few tweaks, your phones camera becomes a 3D scanner resulting in a 3D picture that they can then use to create a 3D printed set of headphones that will fit your ears perfectly. They guarantee that they won’t wiggle or move as you run or dance or do whatever it is you do when listening to the Backstreet Boys Best of but tell everyone you’re listening to Snoop Dogg.

Technology-wise the OwnPhones make use of Bluetooth 4.0, they’re wireless and a built-in digital signal processor which can filter ambient noises. They call it SoundScaping and the feature lowers environmental noises like noisy traffic or a crowded restaurant. More importantly,  and we’ve all been here, you can use the app to let through requested sounds like an alarm clock beeping or a friends voice. No more embarrassing “zone-outs” that end with your mate clicking their fingers in front of your face or slapping you upside the head. 

Little add-ons like a red light flashing telling people to not disturb or a green light to tell them to butt in are nice but I think a little gimmicky and like the headphone equivalent of sitting at dinner with your family and surfing Instagram on your phone. Come on. What are you listening to that’s so important I can’t interrupt you?

Customization continues to what they look like. Here are some examples:

They’re already fully funded on Kickstarter, so expect to see them on the market soon.

Get it: Around R4 000
From: http://ownphones.com