AudioTelligence is a British audio signal processing startup that developed a proprietary Blind Source Separation technology, now at the foundation of its AISO software solution. AISO employs advanced algorithms to provide hearing enhancement on a wide range of multi-microphone devices. Smartphones, earbud charging cases, tablets and remote microphones can all benefit from aiso’s source separation and noise reduction. It leverages Bayesian statistical models to process multi-microphone audio signals and separates each source of sound with a consistent spatial location into its own distinct channel of audio. The software also improves Signal-to-Interference Ratio (SIR) by up to 30dB and is uniquely valuable when there are overlapping speech signals – a problem that cannot be addressed effectively with noise suppression technology alone. It functions with very low latency, even meeting the demands of face-to-face communications in hearing assistance applications.
The company now introduced an hardware demonstration platform for evaluation of a universal assistive listening solution with its technology. The Orsana device is designed to help everyone hear clearly in noise – with hearing aids or simply using Bluetooth true wireless earbuds.
"In the past, solutions for hearing in noise have either been traditional hearing aids, which need additional own brand remote microphones to work well in noise, or separate, more generic remote microphones that have to have a wired connection to earbuds. Now, for the first time, consumers will be able to add additional hearing enhancement to any brand of Bluetooth Low Energy enabled hearing aids, or simply enhance their ability to hear in noise by connecting wirelessly to earbuds. All using the same device," explains the Cambridge, UK-based company.
Orsana is a tabletop remote microphone which leverages Bluetooth Low Energy and the LC3 low latency codec which is set to become a key component of the hearing enhancement offering from both hearing aid manufacturers and makers of consumer electronics. The new Bluetooth LE Audio technology will allow the device to connect wirelessly to BLE enabled hearing aids or to wireless earbuds, with the low latency necessary for face-to-face conversations. In another first, Orsana will be able to combine with Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast capability (Auracast), which will enable several people to connect to one device.
With the use of consumer wireless earbuds for hearing enhancement growing in popularity, AudioTelligence expects that its Orsana solution will be an important listening aid for users who struggle in social situations where traditional options are insufficient. Orsana is a compact (6 x 6cm) and portable device which demonstrates the technology and is designed for conversations in noisy environments. Powered by AudioTelligence’s ground-breaking blind source separation technology, it allows users to focus on the people they want to hear while at the same time reducing background noise. Orsana actually separates speech from different sources and allows the user to choose what they listen to.
"We are proud of what Orsana can achieve," says Dave Betts, AudioTelligence’s Chief Science Officer. "But we are not stopping here. Next on our roadmap will be to put this same technology into an earbud charging case, giving consumers an all-in-one device combining earbuds and hearing enhancement."
AudioTelligence technology is available on a royalty licensing basis, offering low-cost, high-quality solutions for personal assistive listening devices and other consumer electronics products.
www.audiotelligence.com
