Information Society Programme, Concertation meeting - 19th May 2003
Question from the BlueEar Consortium
The BlueEar Project
The aim of the BlueEar project is a multi-channel "Assistive Listening" system for hard of hearing users. It will provide wireless access to audio sources in the direct environment, such as wireless microphones, public address systems, radio, TV, CD, telephone, door bell, fire alarm, etc.
The BlueEar system comprises a Personal Unit, a small device carried by the user, which links to the standard hearing aid. The Personal Unit is a control and communication device that provides multi-channel communication with audio devices in the direct environment, if equipped with a wireless Bluetooth audio interface. In the future, hearing aids will have an internal wireless audio interface as well.
The BlueEar wireless "Assistive Listening" system will have a better performance than the current “Assistive Listening Systems” for hard of hearing persons, such as induction loops, infrared systems and FM systems. Furthermore, the BlueEar system will be easy to install, because it is wireless.
The BlueEar project, which uses Bluetooth, is currently solving design problems concerning data compression, Bluetooth compatibility, range and audio quality. In the second half of 2003 a series of BlueEar prototypes will be trialed in Sweden, The Netherlands and the UK.
Mainstream developments
In the mainstream area the implementation of short-range wireless communication standards (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DECT) and the availability of mobile terminalsusing these communication standards (mobile telephones, PDA's, headsets, media players) is progressing rapidly.The BlueEar project builds upon these developments and aims to improve access to communication for hard of hearing persons.There are special requirements which are specific for hard of hearing users, such as very good audio quality, lip-synchronous communication,low battery power consumption, and a wireless link to the hearing-aid. Not all these requirements are sufficiently met until now.
Access to mainstream devices
Ideally, audio sources (radio, TV, CD player, PDA) should be equipped with a wireless interface that can be accessed by a hard of hearing person using an "Assistive Listening" system. For instance, a hard of hearing person should have the possibility to listen to the TV, not only in his own home, but also in a hotel room, or when he is visiting family or friends. This is only possible when wireless access to audio is a standard function of mainstream audio equipment.
Currently, only a few audio products on the mainstream market are provided with suitable wireless audio interfaces. Even new products with built-in Bluetooth functionality often do not support a Bluetooth audio profile or headset profile (for instance the COMPAQ IPAQ PocketPC).
There is certainly a need for wireless access to audio devices. Not only for the “average” consumer, but also for hard of hearing users, who can profit from a direct wireless link to an audio source. For a hard of hearing person, excellent audio quality is a key requirement. A wireless RF link can bridge the distance between the audio source and the hard of hearing user. This will avoid background noise and the loss of sound quality, occurring when audio is travelling as sound waves through the air.
Question
As can be seen with current PocketPC’s, the borderlines between computers, telephones and audio devices are disappearing. “Personal Audio” already has an important market share.
Which actions - in the mainstream area - are the IT manufacturers currently taking with respect to wireless access to audio sources?
And do they realise that doing so will create a great opportunity for hard of hearing citizens?