CHATTANOOGA, TN--(Marketwired - Feb 18, 2015) - One out of every three people age 65 or older suffers from hearing loss, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. For these individuals, the nearly 48 million Americans with hearing loss, an innovative new captioning telephone was unveiled today that ensures phones conversations are clearly understood and once again enjoyable. Clarity -- a division of Plantronics (
"If you have hearing loss, phone conversations can be frustrating and have a large impact on feelings of isolation and disengagement," said Carsten Trads, president of Clarity. "We've teamed up with ClearCaptions to create a sophisticated home phone using the latest in tablet technology, captioning and amplification to make conversations more accurate, understandable and ultimately enjoyable for millions of people across the U.S. For these individuals, this is really much more than a phone -- it is a lifeline connecting them with the world."
How ClearCaptions works
When an individual places or receives a call on Ensemble, the other party's words are transcribed through ClearCaptions, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-certified telephone-captioning service that is similar to closed captions for television. As the user listens, the conversation automatically appears on Ensemble's touchscreen display in a large, easy-to-read font. There is no fee for using the ClearCaptions service.
Through Ensemble's Call Log, users can go back to previous conversations to review what was said -- a helpful feature to ensure details, such as addresses, phone numbers or doctor instructions, are not missed. Additionally, Ensemble's loud and clear speakerphone allows for hands-free conversations where individuals can use both ears to hear the caller while also reading the captions.
"If you have hearing loss, captioning is vital to normal life," said Bob Rae, CEO and president of ClearCaptions. "Whether it's a conversation with a doctor or a call with a financial advisor, ClearCaptions on the Ensemble makes it absolutely certain that you hear and understand the conversation correctly. In the end, that not only means you can understand the medication instructions from your doctor, but you can hear about your grandchild's day, listen to loved ones wish you happy birthday or simply enjoy a chat with an old friend."
Ensemble's intuitive touchscreen interface is simple and easy-to-use. The phone is also equipped with voicemail. Users can play back messages with live captioning to ensure they don't miss instructions, phone numbers or other important information.
In addition to captioning, Ensemble amplifies the incoming voice so users can clearly hear and understand the conversation. It features a patented digital sound processing technology that functions like a hearing aid to make soft sounds audible and keep loud sounds in a comfortable range. Users can adjust the tone or amplification settings to customize Ensemble to their unique degree of hearing loss.
Ensemble, powered by ClearCaptions, can be purchased at www.clearcaptions.com/buynow for $75. High-speed Internet and landline service are required for Ensemble.
About Clarity - Smart for Seniors™
Clarity, a division of Plantronics (
About ClearCaptions - Get the whole conversation™
ClearCaptions helps millions of people with hearing loss across the U.S. stay connected with the outside world. ClearCaptions is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-certified telephone captioning provider that was founded in 1997. ClearCaptions provides an innovative suite of captioning services through a variety of platforms, including personal computers, mobile devices and home phones. For more information on ClearCaptions, visit www.clearcaptions.com.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Ryan Witherell
615.500.2733
rwitherell@seigenthaler.com