HearAngel and Sonical Announce Strategic Partnership to Integrate Smart Hearing Safeguarding for Headphones

HearAngel (a LimitEar company) and Sonical announced a software licensing agreement to integrate the HearAngel smart hearing safeguarding solution into Sonical's CosmOS operating system for headphones. This collaboration allows manufacturers using the Sonical platform to offer hearing safeguarding either as a standard feature or user option. The announcement was just one in a series of new partnerships for CosmOS confirmed during CanJam London 2024. Based in London, HearAngel is a software licensing company providing safety standard compliant smart hearing safeguarding solutions to the headphone industry. HearAngel technology has been developed by LimitEar, a British company who originally perfected the real time measurement software, adding user feedback of sound dosage with automatic alerts for risk of overexposure.

HearAngel utilizes patent-protected algorithms initially designed for the professional broadcast industry. The software integrates into wireless headphones, measuring sound exposure, with the user interface and controls on a mobile phone. It offers dual modes: managing personal exposure or parental control enabling the management of children's exposure. The patented technology tracks listening duration and sound levels, providing awareness and management options. Users can also opt for optional automated protection, adhering to ITU/WHO H.870 or EN62368-1:2018 safety standards.

Research indicates that at birth, each ear has 15,000 auditory hair cells, which do not regenerate. Exposure to high sound doses, particularly from recreational headphone use, can lead to permanent hearing damage. Deafness Research UK reports that 1 in 3 individuals under 35 has chronic hearing damage due to headphone use.

"CosmOS is enabling the next generation of headphone platform, allowing for personalized and updated devices through downloadable cloud apps. The functionality needed from your headphones can now be changed anytime based on preferences and usage," states Stephen Wheatley, CEO of HearAngel. HearAngel continuously monitors and profiles hearing exposure, alerting users to make informed decisions. Parental control features enable management of children’s listening habits, limiting peak exposure levels and listening periods. The integration of HearAngel into CosmOS emphasizes the importance of hearing protection in the audio industry, catering to both professional users and general consumers. This collaboration aims to set new standards for safe listening practices, ensuring long-term auditory health.

"Hearing safeguarding is increasingly important, with extended listening at high volumes potentially causing permanent hearing damage. HearAngel provides easy-to-use information on sound exposure, enabling informed choices to safeguard hearing," adds Gary Spittle, CEO of Sonical.

Sonical develops embedded platforms for audio products and is the team of experts behind CosmOS, the operating system for the ear, enabling products with app-defined features. CosmOS offers a customizable environment for headphones, supporting various audio applications and enabling dynamic personalization of headphone functionality through downloadable plugins. 

The partnership with HearAngel will allow Sonical to showcase smart hearing safeguarding already on the recently announced Remora PRO module, compatible with wired and wireless headphones, earbuds, or headsets.
www.hearangel.com
www.sonical.ai