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AudioTelligence’s Orsana will cut through noise so all can hear more clearly




AudioTelligence has launched the first universal assistive listening device designed to help everyone to hear clearly in a noisy environment – whether or not they use hearing aids.

Orsana is a compact (6cm x 6 cm) and portable device which demonstrates the technology and is designed for conversations in noisy settings. Powered by AudioTelligence’s blind source separation technology, it separates out background noise and the resulting clean speech is delivered to Bluetooth low energy (BLE) earbuds or hearing aids.

AudioTelligence has launched Orsana, the first universal assistive listening device for social situations. Picture: AudioTelligence
AudioTelligence has launched Orsana, the first universal assistive listening device for social situations. Picture: AudioTelligence

The West Cambridge-based company, a spin-out from CEDAR Audio dedicated to making speech clear and intelligible in a noisy world, says Orsana will leverage BLE low-latency codec and will be a key component for manufacturers or hearing aids and consumer electronics.

Until now, solutions for hearing were traditional hearing aids, which need additional own-brand remote microphones to work well, or separate, more generic remote microphones with a wired connection to earbuds. With Orsana, consumers can add additional hearing enhancement to any BLE-enabled hearing aids, or enhance their ability to hear in noise by connecting wirelessly to earbuds.

Orsana is a compact (6cm x 6 cm) and portable device which demonstrates the technology and is designed for conversations in noisy settings.
Orsana is a compact (6cm x 6 cm) and portable device which demonstrates the technology and is designed for conversations in noisy settings.

Ken Roberts, CEO of AudioTelligence, said: “Orsana is an important part of this new world of hearing. The new BLE low latency codec is about to create a world of audio where wireless hearing enhancement on different consumer devices, including multiple personalised audio from one device, becomes a reality.”

In another first, Orsana will be able to combine with BLE’s broadcast capability, Auracast, which will enable several people to connect to one device. With the addition of Orsana, everyone using that device can have their own personalised audio stream.

AudioTelligence says the world of hearing assistance is changing rapidly - there is no longer a clear distinction between hearing aids as medical devices and true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds which are used as consumer products and are growing in popularity.

For hearing aid users who struggle in social situations where traditional options are insufficient, Orsana offers a new solution. And for non-hearing-aid users, Orsana caters to the increasing demand as identified in recent research by Qualcomm - hearing enhancement, video and voice calls account for 36 per cent of daily TWS earbud usage and this is set to grow.

“We are proud of what Orsana can achieve,” said 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.”

Orsana will be able to combine with Auracast, which will enable several people to connect to one device. Picture: AudioTelligence
Orsana will be able to combine with Auracast, which will enable several people to connect to one device. Picture: AudioTelligence

AudioTelligence’s technology can enable hearing enhancement across a range of devices including earbuds, smartphones and tablets.

Orsana will not be available to consumers directly – it is designed to demonstrate the technology to hearing aid and consumer electronics companies interested in making their own assisted listening devices. These can then be paired with their earbuds and/or hearing aids, offering them a quick pathway to a growing market.

AudioTelligence was highly commended in the Tech for Good category in the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2022.



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