Nokia announced the Nokia Wireless Loopset, designed specifically for improved mobile communications for
people with hearing aids. With a T-coil equipped hearing aid or
cochlear implant, the Loopset can help hearing aid users
enjoy great audio quality and handsfree operation of their mobile
devices and other compatible audio devices. The Loopset is expected to
start shipping worldwide in the first quarter 2009.
with handsets that use Bluetooth connectivity, the Loopset enables
mobile calls to be accessed wirelessly through the hearing aid. Key
features of the Nokia Wireless Loopset include a vibrating alert, user
adjustable sidetone level for enhanced clarity and control of own
voice, and optimized volume range and frequency response. With ease of
use in mind, it comes with a comfortable neckloop and a single button
for call handling.
design and development of all Nokia loopsets has been inspired and
developed by Nokia employees who are hard of hearing. Nokia introduced
the first loopset, the Nokia LPS-1, more than a decade ago. Prior to
this, people with hearing aids had faced difficulties in using digital
mobile phones in noisy environments or due to interference picked up
from the radio transmission of the phone. The Nokia LPS-1 loopset was
the first product of its kind in the world, enabling people with T-coil
equipped hearing aids to use a digital mobile handset.
Nokia
has a range of products and related accessories to help improve
accessibility for people with disabilities. A full listing of available
solutions and support can be found at www.nokiaaccessibility.com.
“The
Nokia Wireless Loopset provides hearing aid users with a hassle-free
and handsfree connection to their mobile phones,” said Peeta
Piiparinen, R&D Specialist, Nokia. “Sound is amplified more
efficiently, while the distance between the phone and hearing aid means
that the possibility of interference is greatly reduced. The loopset
filters out background noise, which increases speech discrimination,
and offers excellent audio quality in a range of environments such as
the car, office, or even in windy conditions outdoors.”
Nokia, we continuously study how we can better address the needs of
people with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, so that also
they have full access to mobile technology,” said Mikko Haho, key
engineer behind the Nokia Wireless Loopset, who himself is hard of
hearing. “My favorite story was from the early days - probably 1998 or
1999. We were at a conference demonstrating the first Nokia loopset. A
lady came up who seemed a bit dubious about the device, but we hooked
her up with it. Next thing we know, her eyes are tearing up as she has
a conversation with her daughter. When she hung up, she told us that
this was the first time she had been able to have a phone conversation
with her daughter in three years. That kind of response really
motivates us to continue to focus on making mobile technology
accessible for all.”