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

根据慈善机构Action on Hearing Loss的数据，听力损失是英国第二大最常见的残疾，影响着大约1100万人。听力损失行动估计，到2035年，这一数字可能会增加到1560万。听力损失会导致难以理解言语，特别是在餐馆和酒吧等嘈杂的环境中。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。有些人安装了助听器，它通过放大语音来工作。然而，它们可能很难适应，许多用户继续在背景噪音中挣扎，有些人放弃使用它们。技术已经开发出来解决这个问题。一个例子是环路系统，其功能是将声音从麦克风馈送到安装在房间周围或桌子上的电线。助听器有一个程序，可以从环路系统中拾取声音，使其更容易听到更远的声音;例如，在一个事件中。这依赖于循环系统被打开并正常运行，并且无助于听到日常对话。另一个例子是通过蓝牙连接到助听器的麦克风。它们可以靠近声源放置，并允许用户在背景噪音中更好地听到声音。一些用户在使用这项技术时遇到困难，并发现它不能完全解决问题。例如，在会议中，几个人可能同时开始发言，麦克风无法分离出用户想要听的声音。AudioTelligence是一家与剑桥大学合作的公司，旨在开发一种新设备，以改善听力障碍人士在背景噪音中的听力。AudioTelligence已经开发出了一种技术，可以在嘈杂的环境中分离出几种不同的声源。该项目的目的是开发一种易于使用的设备，可以获取这些不同的声源，并根据眼睛运动或头部转动等线索确定一个人想要听的声音。当用户转向说话的人时，该设备将自动聚焦于该信号，屏蔽房间中的其他声音。该设备将有可能连接到所有蓝牙支持的耳机，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.