The company partnered with Ampetronic for a live music event in Seoul featuring a K-pop group with hearing loss to highlight audio accessibility.
GN released new international data on social misconceptions surrounding hearing loss and hosted a live event in Seoul to demonstrate Auracast technology during the World Congress of Audiology. The event, held in collaboration with Ampetronic, designer and manufacturer of induction loop systems, featured a live Auracast broadcast audio demonstration and a performance by a K-pop group whose members have hearing loss.
New Data Highlights Social Misconceptions
Research conducted by YouGov across Australia, the UK, and the US indicates that over a third of people with hearing loss report being perceived as rude or disengaged. The data also shows that up to 40% say they are seen as less intelligent or less capable, and more than a third report that others believe they should be able to “try harder” to hear.
“These misconceptions don’t just affect perception, they influence how environments are designed, often overlooking the complexity of hearing in dynamic, noisy settings. That’s why our focus at the World Congress of Audiology is to create an experience that everyone can participate in fully and equally,” says Andreas Anderhov, GN APAC president, in a release.
Live Auracast Demonstration in Seoul
At an event titled “Seoul Session: A Live Auracast Event,” GN and Ampetronic demonstrated live Auracast broadcast audio at a jazz club that is the first venue in South Korea to have Auracast installed. Auracast is a Bluetooth LE capability that streams public audio directly to compatible personal devices, including hearing aids, earbuds, and smartphones. The venue where the event was held is equipped with a system that uses an Auri Transmitter to broadcast audio and Auri receivers, which individuals can tune into.
The event featured a performance by Big Ocean, a K-pop group whose members all live with hearing loss, followed by a panel discussion on accessibility in entertainment.
“Live performances can be challenging for people with hearing loss, often limiting how they experience the moment. Auracast helps address this by delivering ‘front-row’ sound directly to personal devices, so audiences can enjoy events together. Through our partnership with GN, we aim to accelerate adoption globally and inspire venues to rethink how they deliver accessible audio,” says Sam Burkinshaw from Ampetronic, in a release.
Haley Cha, CEO of Parastar Entertainment, which manages Big Ocean, also commented on the importance of accessible experiences. “As artists with hearing loss, the members of Big Ocean know what it feels like to be left out of shared experiences, and how powerful it is when those barriers are removed,” says Cha, in a release.
In addition to the event, GN is showcasing other innovations at its exhibition booth at the World Congress of Audiology, including a live demonstration of its deep neural network (DNN) technology for hearing-in-noise performance.
