Google’s adding Auracast support as part of an Android update announced Thursday, which will allow anyone who uses hearing aids to directly connect to audio streams in public venues.
Auracast is a Bluetooth feature that lets venues create a broadcast network that hearing aids can tap into. This can be especially useful in noisy environments like concerts or train stations, where it can be hard to decipher audio coming from speakers.
The update allows Android phones to link LE Audio-compatible hearing aids from companies like Starkey and GN Hearing to these audio broadcasts.
To use Auracast, the hearing aid will need to be paired with a Samsung Galaxy device running One UI 7 and Android 15, or a Pixel 9 device running Android 16 beta. Then, tune into an Auracast broadcast from a public venue or TV streamer. To do this, go into your phone’s Bluetooth settings or, if you’re on a Pixel 9 device, you can connect to broadcasts by scanning a QR code.
In recent years, companies like Google, Amazon and Apple have been working to improve hearing accessibility across their products and services. Google’s Sound Amplifier app can filter and boost sounds using your phone and a pair of headphones. Live Caption displays real-time captions across apps on Android devices, while Live Transcribe shows transcriptions of spoken words and sounds.
Amazon in 2022 added a capability for viewers to pair their hearing aids with the Fire TV Cube to make watching shows and movies more seamless. The company also added a Dialogue Boost feature to Prime Video in 2023 to make it easier for anyone to hear dialogue over background sounds.
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And Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 double as hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, adding to the roster of over-the-counter hearing aids that help lower the barrier to entry. Like Google, Apple’s Live Captions feature shows real-time captions on calls and conversations, helping people who are deaf and hard of hearing follow what’s happening.
Google adding Auracast support on Android is the latest example of how everyday tech can double as a tool to boost accessibility, and hopefully improve the experience of all users.
