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The testing process is time consuming and somewhat inexact, which severely limits an audiologist’s throughput and often leaves a patient with suboptimal performance. A shortage of trained audiologists coupled with suboptimal device performance is limiting the growth rate of the digital hearing device market.
Audigence addresses both of these issues by providing a software product that fully automates the assessment process. Audigence’s Clarujust™ software assesses and optimizes the performance of an individual’s digital hearing device, such as a cochlear implant or a digital hearing aid, without modifying the existing hardware. The service can be delivered remotely over the Web so patients can be tested in any environment that is equipped with Internet access, a personal computer and a microphone.
Currently, digital hearing devices are tuned using a series of tones. Yet, since the ultimate goal of individuals with hearing loss is to hear speech, as opposed to tones, a tone-based tuning process leaves much to be desired. For many users, the “leap” from tone recognition to speech understanding is not straightforward. In addition, tone-based device tuning makes individual (user-unique) adjustment difficult, if not impossible.
The Clarujust™ approach will permit user-specific tuning and adjustment based on speech. As a result, this software will allow digital hearing devices to more accurately meet the needs of users.
The development of the Clarujust™ software was inspired by the personal experience of Lee Krause, Audigence founder. After receiving a cochlear implant, Krause envisioned a better way to enhance sound clarity for individuals using digital hearing devices.
| Alliances |
To support the development of Clarujust™, Audigence has entered into a strategic alliance with the University of Florida. Several important elements of the university are involved, including the School of Medicine, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (within the College of Arts and Sciences) and the Department of Communicative Disorders (within the College of Public Health and Health Professionals). The alliance with the University of Florida strengthens our position on numerous fronts, including:
- The University of Florida brings a set of world-class researchers and clinicians in the area of auditory research. These individuals will rapidly establish credibility for Audigence.
- The University of Florida will make available to Audigence world-class laboratory facilities to support the development and testing of Clarujust™. Audigence will utilize the University of Florida’s existing industry contacts to establish marketing and distribution strategies.
- Audigence holds the exclusive license for the University of Florida portion of the jointly held patent.
- Audigence enjoys access to University of Florida office technology licensing resources to support the commercialization of the Clarujust™ technology.
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TRDA has provided training and guidance to the Audigence management team along with a place for the company to be incubated. The alliance with TRDA has positioned Audigence for success through:
- The Business Innovation Center, which helps start-up technology firms in Central Florida grow into financially viable, freestanding, high-growth companies. It offers clients access to modern office space, shared office resources, business services, professional development and training, investor networking and more, for one monthly fee.
- The Roadmap to Success course, which helped the Audigence team develop a detailed business plan to guide the company in the commercialization of the Clarujust™ technology.
- The Introduction to Angel investors course and support in closing Audigence series A investment round.
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