The inventor of the first successful digital hearing aid, Miller Reese Hutchison, also designed some of the earliest car horns—helping people be heard in two very different ways.
The Man Who Helped People Hear—and Be Heard
Most people have never heard of Miller Reese Hutchison, but his inventions have affected both your ears and your daily commute. Imagine making life easier for countless people struggling to hear—then making sure everyone else can blast their arrival from a block away!
The Inventor Behind Tiny Miracles
At the turn of the 20th century, deafness was an all-but-insurmountable obstacle. Enter Hutchison, a determined young inventor from Alabama. Frustrated by a friend’s hearing loss, he created the first practical electric hearing aid, the Acousticon, in 1898. Suddenly, people with hearing impairments could pick up on conversations, concerts, and even bird songs that would have been lost to them forever.
Switching Gears—Literally—With the Car Horn
Just a few years later, automobiles were just catching on, and silence on the roads was dangerous. Hutchison put his skills to work again, inventing the Klaxon horn in 1908—the same blaring 'AOOOGA' sound that became synonymous with early cars. His work didn’t just help people hear better, it helped people announce themselves to the world!
A Life Devoted to Making Noise
From hospitals to highways, Hutchison’s innovations had a major impact. He also worked as Thomas Edison’s chief engineer, bringing his knack for practical problem-solving to a variety of fields.
Two Sides of the Same Coin
It’s an inspiring reminder: sometimes, a passion for sound can improve individual lives and public spaces alike. Whether helping someone join a quiet conversation or making sure everyone can hear a new arrival coming, Hutchison used technology to make the world just a bit more connected.