CES 2023 introduced the new AgeTech track, thanks to a partnership between AARP and CTA, which brought panelists and new technology aimed at helping seniors to the stage. Hearing-assistive technologies were underrepresented compared to years past; however, one big trend that’s complementary to HeardThat got us excited—captioning.

Captions on glasses?

Captioning glasses use a small microphone to pick up speech, which is then translated into captions and displayed on the lenses. Xander showed their prototype, which uses augmented reality (AR) glasses from Vuzix. The company is preparing a pilot with the Veterans Health Administration and has just raised $1.4M in pre-seed funding.

Nametag-like captioning displays

Lanyards IDs and nametags are staples at industry events like CES. Satellite Display took this idea and created Badger, a closed captioning smart badge that can be worn on a lanyard or affixed to a shirt. It turns speech into text and can also translate and display conversations in a different language. This unique product empowers the wearer to hold hearing-accessible conversations with those with hearing loss. 

These captioning technologies are a game-changer for seniors who struggle to hear conversations in noisy environments. Products like Xander and Badger work nicely with HeardThat to ensure users don’t miss a word. Users benefit from improved, effortless audio and supporting visual text.

If you haven’t yet, download HeardThat for free today. If you use the app with captioning technology, we’d love to hear about your experience. Tag us on Twitter or Facebook to tell us about it!