Improving the speed of hearing

Latency & Bandwith in 5G live audio

Audus Technologies, a Dutch company specialized in cloud based audio solutions for hearing impaired, will be testing a cloud based hearing aid solution, using the 5G facility of the Do Iot Fieldlab, that has the potential to benefit millions of people worldwide. Processing sound in the cloud will lead to better fitting algorithms, a higher level of customization and real time software updates. The technology will improve people’s hearing by improving the source of the sound they are listening to.

Duration
From January to August 2022

Partners (TU Delft)
Do IoT Fieldlab, TU Delft, The Green Village

Partners (other)
Audus Technologies,  TNO, SURF, LUMC

Knisper, the engine of Audus Technologies hearing solution, relocates the processing of sound from a local device, hence a conventional hearing aid, to the cloud. To gain high output quality, a low latency (delay in transferring sound) in combination with sufficient bandwidth in live audio is crucial. For hearing impaired people the latency should not be higher than 20 milliseconds to synchronise the sound with lip reading and live sound. At present, the speed of data transfer with 4G connections is not sufficient for live speech in a person-to-person setting with a latency of 36 to 48 milliseconds. The usage of 5G in combination with a new network infrastructure has the potential to substantially reduce the latency to 1 millisecond. Solving the latency issue will dramatically improve the use in live speech in their future hearing aid solution.

The opportunity to use the 5G environment of the Do IoT Fieldlab at the Green Village will enable Audus Technologies to early-stage test the viability of their hearing aid solution. It will enable them to explore their technology’s possibilities and to consult with experts at TU Delft Campus. The test results will be valuable for the Do IoT Fieldlab and will stimulate the ecosystem of linked tech companies.

According to the World Health Organisation almost 500 million people worldwide are experiencing disabling hearing loss, going up to an estimated 900 million by 2050. Unaddressed hearing loss has far-reaching functional, social and emotional impact and poses an annual global cost of $750 billion. Audus Technologies wants to serve these nearly 500 million people by providing them with cloud-based low-cost technology that will dramatically improve their hearing. The technology has the benefit of lower hardware cost, lower power usage and constant software updates, but above all, improves the speed of online sound for better hearing.

Watch the video on Audus’ experience experimenting with 5G.