In what would be a world-first combination of hearing technology with earbud charging facilities manufacturers will have access to a comprehensive all-in-one solution for individuals with hearing impairments as well as for anyone who needs to hear clearly in noise.
The concept addresses the challenges faced by many people with hearing impairment in social situations where conventional hearing aids may fall short. With a sleek and modern design, the charging case has been designed to better align with the form factor of popular wireless earbud cases.
AudioTelligence said that the case has been designed to be both user friendly and appealing, because it hopes that the discreet and modern design will encourage wider adoption of hearing technology integrated into consumer products.
Users will no longer need additional hardware or accessories: help with hearing better becomes available in a device which they already carry with them. With this practical solution to a common problem, AudioTelligence said that it wants to ‘revolutionise’ the assistive technology market.
Hearing aids undoubtedly offer numerous benefits, particularly in one-on-one conversations. However, they may not fully address the challenges faced in busy environments such as restaurants or cafes, where background noise can hinder clear communication. Accessories like remote microphones paired with hearing aids or earbuds have proven beneficial in these situations, but carrying additional devices can be cumbersome and they are easy to forget.
By integrating AudioTelligence’s advanced source separation algorithms into a true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud or hearing aid charging case, manufacturers can offer a multi-functional device that complements users' existing solutions.
"We are excited to introduce the earbud assistive listening case which allows our customers to offer hearing enhancement solutions for every environment without the need for extra accessories," said Sue Handley-Jones, CEO at AudioTelligence. “AudioTelligence’s mission is to empower individuals to engage fully in social interactions, overcome communication barriers and enhance their overall quality of life. The earbud assistive listening case represents a significant step towards a more inclusive society, by integrating hearing accessibility into everyday devices.”
This concept capitalises on the growing popularity of TWS earbuds as cutting-edge consumer accessories and takes advantage of the blurring lines between consumer tech and professional hearing devices.
Powered by AudoTelligence's aiso, the assistive listening devices within the earbud charging case use blind source separation (BSS) to process audio signals from multiple microphones. This technology separates each source of sound with a consistent spatial location into its own distinct channel of audio. The result - a remarkable capability for individuals with hearing loss to seamlessly follow the conversation.
The BSS technology improves the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) by up to 30 dB, with added benefits in situations with overlapping speech signals where noise suppression alone is insufficient. By enhancing the clarity of speech, AudioTelligence technology ensures that individuals with hearing loss can communicate more effectively in various listening environments.
