Pharrell is singing “Happy,” rich, full-throated, in stereo and coming out of what looks like a flesh-toned lima bean tinier than a dime.
The music flows from an iPhone playlist and streams through a new-age hearing aid, which also can stream audio from iPads and other Apple devices and be controlled through an iPhone app. A version compatible with Android is expected in February.
Information
For details on groups offering financial assistance for hearing aids: * The National Institute on Deafness: 800-241-1044; e-mail: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov * The Better Hearing Institute: 800-327-9355
It also can be used as a microphone and recorder, so it can be an audio teleprompter when you give a speech. And yes, it’s also just a regular hearing aid.
Beltone’s new hearing aid, the First, can be controlled through an iPhone app, can stream music from Apple devices,
smartphones and tablets, and can be used as a microphone and recorder, enabling it to be used as an
audio teleprompter. Android compatible hearing aids should be available in February.Called the First, it was developed by Beltone’s Research and Development folks in Chicago and a lab in Amsterdam. The brand-new hearing aid is now being rolled out across Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia, says Beltone Tennessee Chief Executive Officer Perry Ebel.