Sound quality optimization by individualized sound pressure equalization: The hearing -aid headset can be calibrated in-situ to produce an equivalent frequency response at the eardrum as the open ear – hence, the device becomes “acoustically transparent”. By this feature, unnatural distortions are equalized and the sound impression becomes more natural. This individualized hardware platform forms the basis of the demonstrator. More infos can be found here.

Source localization is the first step of scene analysis conducted in the demonstrator. Estimation of source locations, i.e., direction of arrival relative to the observer, is based on spatial source probability maps that are estimated in 10ms time frames on the acoustic input channels of the earpieces. The spatial source image, provided by the probabilistic maps, is available in the whole angular range of interest at the same time. The probabilistic information of sound source presence enables tracking of sources in dynamic scenarios. Different mechanisms taking into account reliability of estimates as well as physical properties of (moving) acoustic sources are implemented.