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| Starkey Korea CEO Richard Shim, left, shakes hands with President Moon Jae-in during the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry conference at the lobby group's head office in Seoul in this May 10, 2017 file photo. / Courtesy of Starkey Korea |
By Baek Byung-yeul
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| Starkey Hearing Technologies' new hearing aid device Livio AI / Courtesy of Starkey Korea |
Starkey Korea said its Livio AI is a game changer in the hearing aid device industry as it is the industry's first hearing aid device that features integrated sensors and AI technology to provide both superior sound quality and the ability to track body and brain health.
"The Livio AI was first introduced in the U.S. in August 2018 and has been acclaimed for not only providing effective hearing aid solutions but also healthcare management," a company official said.
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| William F. Austin, left, founder and CEO of Starkey Hearing Technologies, poses with Tani Austin, center, founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and Brandon Sawalich, president of Starkey Hearing Technologies in this photo provided by the firm, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Starkey Korea |
The device also features the Thrive Hearing mobile app enabling users to monitor their body, brain and overall wellness. The Thrive app gives users a Thrive Wellness Score each day to help them know their health status.
Starkey also operates its tele-health program Hearing Care Anywhere enabling users to request and receive adjustments to their devices.
Though the Thrive app, users can request fitting services for their Livio AI. Once hearing professionals receive the request, they will make the required adjustments and send the new setting back to the user.
Supporting Bluetooth connectivity, the Livio AI users can stream audio from TV or other electronic audio devices.
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| William F. Austin, founder and CEO of Starkey Hearing Technologies / Courtesy of Starkey Korea |
"It is our brand new technology. Using high-speed computer processing, the technology helps the device separate many layers of sound to better replicate natural hearing," Starkey said, adding the device earned a 98 percent satisfaction rating for sound quality.
"Many users have said there has been a significant reduction in listening effort especially in loud and noisy places."
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| Brandon Sawalich, president of Starkey Hearing Technologies / Courtesy of Starkey Korea |
The event will feature William F. Austin, owner and CEO of Starkey Hearing Technologies; Brandon Sawalich, president of Starkey Hearing Technologies; Chief Tech Officer Achin Bhowmik; Chief Innovation Officer Dave Fabry; and Chief Audiology Officer Sara Burdak.
"The event will be a meaningful one for us as the 23rd anniversary of Starkey Korea falls on the same day," another company official said.
Starkey Korea will invite prominent figures to the event offering opportunities to test the latest hearing gadgets.
Those invited include Oh Myung, former minister of science and technology and chairman of DB Group's electronics, IT and semiconductor business group; Kim Il-soon, president of the Korea Golden Age Forum; and Kim Sang-hee, singer and chairman of a volunteer group of Korean entertainers.
"Visitors to the event can try on the device to check the performance and reliability of the product," she said.
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| Starkey Korea CEO Richard Shim, left, poses with Kim Sang-hee, center, singer and chairman of a volunteer group of Korean entertainers, and Oh Myung, former minister of science and technology and chairman of DB Group's electronics, IT and semiconductor business group in this photo provided by Starkey Korea, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Starkey Korea |
As hearing loss is one of the most common problems faced by elderly people, the government has been operating a state program to support people who have hearing difficulties.
For the hearing impaired here, the government will provide up to a maximum 1.31 million won ($1,097) healthcare subsidy for the purchase of a hearing aid. Starkey Korea also has been actively helping people with hearing loss by implementing various kinds of social responsibility activities.
"The Livio AI is an innovation that greatly reduced the inconveniences users experience with their hearing aids. We expect the Livio AI will improve users' overall quality of life," the official said.
Who is William F. Austin?
William F. Austin, is owner and CEO of Starkey Hearing Technologies.
Since he established Starkey Hearing Technologies in 1967, Austin has dedicated his life to helping people hear.
Offering not only sales but also repair services for hearing aids of all types, at its founding, Starkey Hearing Technologies was the only hearing aid repair service provider covering all makes at the time in the U.S.
The company kicked off its sales operation in Korea in 1996 and its local unit now has the largest market share and highest customer satisfaction rating in the hearing aid industry here.
With his wife Tani, Austin also established the Starkey Hearing Foundation, a charity that gives free hearing aids to those in need around the world.
Alongside audiologists and other volunteers, Austin has helped the poor on missions in more than 100 countries.
So far, more than 1 million people with hearing difficulties have been given Starkey's hearing aid devices through the foundation.
For his philanthropic work, Austin has received honors from many countries including the Horatio Alger Award, Mexico's Aztec Eagle Award, the Jefferson Award, the Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award, the National Caring Award, the Humanitarian Award from Variety International, and the AG Bell Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was also named the first Goodwill Global Ambassador for Ear and Hearing Health at the United Nations in 2017.
Introducing the firm's latest hearing aid device, Austin said he believes the Livio AI can make a huge impact in the hearing aid industry.
"I have always dreamed about making a monumental, positive impact on society," said Austin. "The Livio AI and its fall alert feature will not only provide peace of mind to caregivers but could potentially save lives all over the world."
With more than 6,000 employees, the firm operates 25 facilities and is doing business in more than 100 markets worldwide.
Led today by President Brandon Sawalich, the firm is the only American-owned and operated provider of hearing technologies.
As a board member of the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) and chairman of the Hearing Industries Association (HIA), Sawalich has been focusing on increasing partnerships with the firm's global partners.
