In late august, Starkey Hearing Technologies finally unveiled the company’s much-talked about, Livio AI hearing aid, what the company has dubbed as the world’s first Healthable™ hearing aid. In an innovative and unique approach to hearing technology, with the help of integrated sensors and artificial intelligence, the new devices are “the first to track physical activity and cognitive health”.
The Livio AI hearing aids interface with a new mobile app—Thrive™ Hearing—as well as three new wireless accessories: a TV adapter, Remote Control and Remote Microphone+. With the Remote Microphone+, the Livio AI is the first hearing aid to feature connectivity with Amazon Alexa.
“First and foremost, Livio AI is the best performing and best sounding hearing aid we have ever made. We have transformed a single-use device into the world’s first multi-purpose hearing aid, a Healthable with artificial intelligence. Livio AI is so much more than just a hearing aid, it is a gateway to better health and wellness.”
—Brandon Sawalich, Starkey President
The company’s new technology, New Hearing Reality™, helps “reduce noisy environments by 50-percent, significantly reduces listening effort and enhances speech clarity, while artificial intelligence optimizes the hearing experience”.
Livio AI Hearing Aid Features
The new aids are said to offer the following
- Integrated language translation
- Dual-radio wireless platform: 2.4GHz radio for streaming of phone calls, music and media, and near field magnetic induction (NFMI) for binaural synchronization between devices
- Fall detection with inertial sensors found within the hearing aids (app support for this feature to be coming soon)
- Integration of the physical activity data measured by inertial sensors of the hearing aids with Apple® Health and Google® Fit apps
Integrated Sensors and Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Hearing Aid Technology?
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the world around us,” Starkey Hearing Technologies Chief Technology Officer Dr. Achin Bhowmik said. “This technology optimizes users’ hearing experiences and enables them to continuously monitor and improve their overall health.”
This cutting-edge technology allows people to take a proactive and personal approach to treating hearing loss, which has been linked to dementia, cognitive decline and social isolation.
Livio AI is currently available in the United States and Canada and will become available in over 20 countries in 2019.
Source: Starkey
