The Bionic Ear is properly called a cochlear implant.
It is an artificial hearing tool that uses electricity to stimulate nerves in the inner ear, which send sound signals to the brain.
The Bionic Ear or cochlear implant helps a deaf person to hear another person speak.
An early version of the Bionic Ear inserted under the skin
There are 2 parts to the Cochlear Implant.
An early version of the part of the 'Bionic Ear' worn on the outside of the body
One part is placed under the skin behind a person's ear. This is done in a hospital during an operation. The parts placed under the skin are the electronic equipment needed to control the flow of electricity into the ear and the equipment needed to change electrical signals into speech.
The second part is worn on the outside of the body. There is a microphone to pick up the voice of the person speaking. A speech processor which turns the voice sounds into electrical signals, a transmitting coil which sends the signals to the equipment inside the deaf person's ear.
The Cochlear Implant was invented by Professor Graeme Clark
Professor Clark and a team of scientists worked in Melbourne, Australia in the 1970's. The device was first transplanted into a patient in 1978.
The ‘Bionic Ear’ is now worn by over 20,000 deaf people in over 55 countries.
Read more about Professor Graeme Clark.
http://www.cochlear.com/wps/wcm/connect/au/about/company-history/about-graeme-clark