Animas High School PO Box 4414 Durango, CO 81302 (970)-247-2474

December 16, 2013 Apple 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 95014

To Whom It May Concern: I am a high school student and I attend an academically rigorous school where the use and application of technology is imperative. Therefore, I felt the need to purchase several of your products to enhance my educational opportunity. Your products are top of the line and I believe your electronics are the best on the market. Over the years, I have purchased several iPods with the accompanying headphones and I have been very pleased. However, I believe your headphones could be further improved upon. While I love the sleek look of your headphones, I have found that the one size fits all ear buds are slightly uncomfortable. Therefore, I have an innovative idea to share with you. I would like to suggest that the hard plastic that covers the ear bud be replaced with a thermoplastic such as Polymorph, which could conform to each persons individual ear. Thermoplastics are composed of long chains of polymers. Polymers are organic materials, and the pillars of every polymer are chains of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms that form polymers covalently bond with other foreign atoms such as hydrogen, fluorine, and chlorine. Each individual molecule containing carbon combines with other like molecules due to the sharing of electrons. When the molecules bond together, chains of polymers form. These chains continue to add more individual-like molecules until the process stops. The chain length of polymers determines the inner bonding force between the molecules that form polymers. If there are more molecules, the inner bonding force increases. Because of this, the ratio of catalyst to initiator used while forming polymers, can be varied to your liking so you can create a thermoplastic with the exact properties you desire based on the length of the chains being creating.

Some physical characteristics that occur by increasing the chain length is an increase in toughness, creep resistance, stress-crack resistance, melt temperature, and melt viscosity. Because of the chain length, polymers lengthen instead of break when stress is added, and the loose bonds between molecules cause polymers to melt at lower temperatures. Low melting point is key to the idea of using a thermoplastic material to replace the existing hard, plastic ear bud coating. Several thermoplastics such as Polymorph melt and become moldable when it is immersed in hot water. The water must be anywhere from 140-143 degrees Fahrenheit for Polymorph to soften. Since it is that easy for thermoplastics, such as Polymorph, to change from a hard solid to a moldable solid, it leaves endless opportunities for customers to experiment with what shape of ear bud is best for them. Thermoplastics such as Polymorph are very inexpensive, and only a small amount is needed to replace the hard, outer ear bud shell. If your headphones conformed to each persons individual ear, it would decrease the amount of sound escaping from the ear bud, and earphones would also remain securely in ones ears while working out. Thermoplastics can be molded over and over again so customers can experiment until they find the best shape needed for them. Although my suggestion may present various challenges, I hope you take the time to explore the possibility of using thermoplastics as a possible solution to individualize ear bud comfort. If you have any questions regarding my idea, please feel free to contact me at a.paschal15@animashighschool.com.

Sincerely,

Andie Paschal