Amazon and Cochlear have partnered to create a unique feature that enables audio to be streamed directly from Fire TV devices to hearing implants, utilizing the Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) protocol. As Engadget reported, this marks the first instance of a smart TV gadget being capable of transmitting sound straight to a hearing implant processor.
Ryan Lopez, Cochlear’s product management and marketing director stated that working on audio streaming from smartphones to hearing aids inspired the company to explore streaming audio from televisions to hearing devices. “TV is a big part of our lives. We get our news and information through television, our entertainment, sports, and music. When we started to work with [Amazon], what really came to light was their dedication to accessibility, effective communication, and collaborating on how we can combine these technologies. At Cochlear, we were really proud to be a part of this.”
To utilize the feature, you will require a Fire TV device, such as the Fire TV 4-Series, Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen), Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen), Fire TV Omni Series, or Fire TV Omni QLED Series, in addition to one of the Cochlear Nucleus 8, Nucleus 7, Nucleus Kanso 2, or Baha 6 Max sound processors.
Peter Korn, director of accessibility for Amazon Devices, stated, “The majority told us that the first thing you really want if you’ve got hearing loss is to be able to hear clearly the people around you. The second thing you want is the ability to hear the television, to enjoy entertainment.”
Amazon’s cooperation with Cochlear expands on the firm’s commitment to accessibility. In April 2022, Amazon launched ASHA on Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) for compatible Bluetooth hearing aids from Starkey, a hearing aid manufacturer that produces the Audibel, NuEar, MicroTech, and Audigy brands. Cochlear has spent several years developing technology that enables sound to be streamed directly from compatible Apple or Android devices to their Nucleus Sound Processors.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in the world of technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles as well, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. Motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot and maybe I’ll make a film sometime in the future.