Winner of CES Innovations Award for Personal Electronics
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- 2007 International CES, Booth#
Sands/69453 -- Until now, all personal communication devices used by people
with hearing loss require a wire to connect the handset to a headphone or
hearing aid, creating an awkward setup with limited range and usability
that also draws unwelcome attention to the user's disability. The new Able
Talker(TM) Assistive Listening System from Able Planet Inc. is the first
completely wireless system of its kind, the first equipped with
patent-pending technology that enhances speech intelligibility, and the
first to offer a listening range of 35 feet without obtrusive cables and
extension cords.
Designed for use in settings ranging from at-home conversations to
cars, restaurants, lecture halls and beyond, Able Talker is a palm-sized
radio frequency transmitter with a low-noise microphone that beams sound
directly to Able Planet's Clear Harmony(TM) Wireless Headphones or a
hearing aid without tethering the user to a cord. A small docking station
included in the package allows the transmitter to be plugged into a TV, MP3
player, stereo, radio, telephone or other audio device for cable-free sound
delivery to the hearing instrument without the line-of-sight requirement of
infrared systems.
The microphone built into the Able Talker handset filters out
background noise and reduces reverberation from the sound source, boosting
users' ability to participate in conversations even in noisy rooms. The
Clear Harmony Wireless Headphone and soon-to-be-released Able Planet
hearing aids further enhance speech clarity through a proprietary Able
Planet technology called Linx Audio(TM) that increases the intensity of
higher frequency harmonics as well as increasing perceived loudness without
boosting volume.
Together, these radio frequency-based components offer better sound
quality than FM-based assistive listening systems by providing a true
digital solution delivering 16-bit audio precision.
The Able Talker transmitter can be attached to a belt with the built-in
clip, worn around the neck with a lanyard, or placed wirelessly on a table,
podium or any other sound source at a distance of up 35 feet from the user.
It transmits in mono mode for speech or stereo mode for entertainment; runs
on one rechargeable AAA battery that delivers 15 hours of battery life
between charges; and recharges in the docking station.
Pricing and Availability
The Able Talker Assistive Listening System includes the Able Talker
handset, Clear Harmony Wireless Headphones and docking station/charger. It
will be available for $699.99 (MSRP) at http://www.ableplanet.com and
leading retailers, catalogs and Internet stores late in the first quarter.
Later this year, Able Planet will release wireless-ready hearing aids as
well as a DAI boot for third-party behind-the-ear hearing aids, enabling
the Able Talker to be used with hearing aids as well as headphones.
About Able Planet Inc.
Able Planet designs and manufactures innovative audio and communication
devices for individuals with all levels of hearing. The company's products
range from headphones and telephones to assistive listening devices
featuring Able Planet's patent-pending Linx Audio technology, and have won
numerous honors including 10 International Consumer Electronics Show
awards. They are marketed through Able Planet, resellers, audiology
networks, nonprofit foundations and strategic partners. The privately held
company is headquartered in Denver. For more information, visit
http://www.ableplanet.com .
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