iHearBetter - a revolutionizing assistive listening device for hearing-impaired individuals

根据慈善机构“听力损失行动”的数据，听力损失是英国第二大常见的残疾，影响了大约1100万人。据“听力损失行动”估计，到2035年，这一数字可能增加到1560万。听力损失导致理解语言困难，特别是在嘈杂的环境中，如餐馆和酒吧。因此，听力损失的人往往开始避免这些环境，并可能变得孤立。有些人装有助听器，通过放大说话声音来工作。然而，它们可能很难习惯，许多用户继续在背景噪音中挣扎，有些人放弃了使用它们。解决这个问题的技术已经发展起来。环路系统就是一个例子，它的功能是将麦克风的声音输入安装在房间周围或桌子上的电线。助听器有一个程序，可以从循环系统中收集声音，使其更容易听到更远的声音；例如，在一个活动中。这依赖于循环系统的开启和正常运作，并不能帮助听到日常对话。另一个例子是通过蓝牙连接助听器的麦克风。它们可以放置在靠近声源的地方，可以让用户在背景噪音中更好地听到声音。一些用户使用这种技术有困难，并发现它不能完全解决问题。例如，在会议中，可能有几个人同时开始讲话，麦克风无法区分出用户想要听的声音。AudioTelligence是一家与剑桥大学合作开发一种新设备的公司，旨在改善听力障碍人士在背景噪音中听到声音的方式。audiointelligence已经开发出一种技术，可以在嘈杂的环境中分离出几种不同的声源。这个项目的目的是开发一种易于使用的设备，它可以获取这些不同的声源，并根据眼球运动或头部转动等线索，找出一个人想听的声音。当用户转过身去看说话的人时，该设备会自动聚焦于该信号，从而屏蔽房间里的其他声音。该设备将有可能连接到所有支持蓝牙的耳机，包括助听器和人工耳蜗。

According to the charity Action on Hearing Loss, hearing loss is the second most common disability in the UK, affecting approximately 11 million people. Action on Hearing Loss estimates that this number could increase to 15.6 million by 2035. Hearing loss causes difficulties understanding speech, especially in noisy environments such as restaurants and pubs. As a result, people with hearing loss often start to avoid these environments and can become isolated. Some people are fitted with hearing aids, which work by amplifying speech sounds. However, they can be difficult to get used to and many users continue to struggle in background noise, with some giving up using them.Technology has been developed to address this problem. One example is loop systems, which function by feeding sound from a microphone into an electrical wire fitted around a room or in a desk. Hearing aids have a programme that picks up sound from the loop system, making it easier to hear sound that is further away; for example, at an event. This relies on the loop system being switched on and functioning correctly and does not help with hearing every-day conversations. Another example is microphones that connect to hearing aids via Bluetooth. They can be positioned close to a sound source and can allow the user to hear that sound better in background noise. Some users have difficulty using this technology and find that it does not completely resolve the problem. In a meeting, for example, several people may start speaking at once and the microphone cannot separate out the voice that a user wants to listen to. AudioTelligence is a company working with the University of Cambridge to develop a new device to improve the way that people with hearing impairment hear in background noise. AudioTelligence have already developed technology that can separate out several different sound sources in noisy environments. The aim of this project is to develop an easy-to-use device that can take these different sound sources and work out which of them a person wants to listen to, based on cues such as eye movements or head turns. As a user turns to look at the person speaking, the device will automatically focus on that signal, blocking out other voices in the room. The device will have the potential to connect to all Bluetooth supported headsets including hearing aids and cochlear implants.