Has the thrill of attending the theatre, a concert, a conference, a church service, or any other event held in an auditorium transformed into a source of frustration for you? It’s not uncommon for people with some degree of hearing loss to struggle in these environments. Large, crowded spaces often present challenges such as background noise, echoes, and other acoustic issues, making it difficult to hear and enjoy the event.
Among the remedies designed to improve the experience for those with hearing challenges are assisted listening systems (ALS), such as induction loop, infrared, or FM loop systems. These systems come with limitations, like poor quality, high cost, and lack of privacy.
Auracast technology from Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) overcomes the challenges of traditional assistive listening systems, which is great news for the hearing aid industry and hearing aid users.
Let’s take a closer look at Auracast technology, what it means for the future of hearing aids, and how it will improve your enjoyment of public events.
What Is Auracast and How Does It Work?
The objective of Auracast is to promote the deployment of this broadcast audio system in conference centers, movie theaters, transportation centers, places of worship, and more in order to promote better living through better hearing for everyone.
Bluetooth LE audio (Bluetooth 5.2), a low-energy Bluetooth standard that was introduced in 2022, which allows seamless audio playing from two different devices, makes it possible to share audio with friends and even stream to large numbers of people in public spaces.
The streaming capabilities of LE Audio is the support system for Auracast, which allows devices with Bluetooth 5.2, which are in the range of the broadcast system, to receive audio signals, potentially including your hearing aids.
Benefits of Auracast
The main benefits that come from the use of Auracast include:
- Audio Sharing – Using a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or similar device, you can share your audio with multiple listeners with compatible devices near you, like in meetings and during tours.
- Unmuting Public Broadcasts – Devices with LE audio allow you to hear muted televisions in bars, gyms, waiting rooms, airport lounges, train stations, and other public spaces.
- Improving Your Listening Experience – For those with hearing aids, Auracast broadcast audio is able to augment your listening experience at theaters, places of worship, transit centers, airports, conference centers, and other public gatherings. It can also include multi-language support using a simulcast of an alternate language.
- Broader Range of Deployment – Because it is less expensive than loop systems, Auracast is apt to be deployed in more locations, expanding the number of venues where you can enjoy a better listening experience.
What Does Auracast Mean for the Hearing Aid Industry?
Hearing aid and cochlear implant users will soon be enjoying better hearing with a broader range of audio signals available for streaming directly into your hearing devices. In addition to improving their ability to hear important information in airports, train stations, hospitals, and other public places, they’ll be able to enjoy a night out at the theater, a concert, and other public events with enhanced audio clarity.
Hearing technology has now reached the market that is utilizing Auracast, including the Starkey Genesis AI and the ReSound Nexia.
It creates even more of a personalized experience for the user that makes connecting to audio loops much simpler, creates less challenges, and ensures they’re best positioned for the future of Auracast Bluetooth technology.
