“Aging Baby-Boomers are increasingly experiencing hearing loss. Mobile technology will give them an enhanced user experience compared to previous generations.”

The Baby Boom Generation is aging and experiencing hearing loss at an increasing rate. One in six Baby Boomers now have hearing problems. Maybe it's a result of listening to the Beatles with headphones too loud – or a few too many rock concerts minus ear plugs – but now it's finally caught up with them. EarSplash can help them transition to hearing aids much more easily while providing an enhanced the user experience than the old-style hearing aids.

While doing research for the concept, it was discovered that many older hearing-impaired people dislike the traditional hearing aids so much, they refuse to wear them. What is it about the user experience that is so negative, that the hearing impaired would often rather suffer diminished hearing than use a hearing aid to help them?

One of the chief reasons hearing aids have a reputation for a poor user experience, is because users have great difficulty working with the small hearing aid controls and manipulating the dials. Many times, people who suffer hearing loss, also have reduced dexterity in their hands, and their eyes aren't quite as sharp as they used to be either, to see tiny controls.

Compounding problems, is that many times adjustments are needed to adapt hearing aids in different acoustic situations and in a public setting. Making changes with conventional hearing aids can be quite difficult, stressful and even embarrassing.

Boomers are discovering – it's not the 60s any more and it's no fun growing old.

The EarSplash Concept aims to overcome this dilema. The iWatch-based app concept controls the hearing aid via a BlueTooth connection rather than traditional too-small-to-see dials on the hearing aid itself. The mobile app replaces these mechanical controls with virtual controls in the app. EarSplash also offers features previously unavailable on a traditional hearing aid.

Because EarSplash is fully a BlueTooth device, it can pair with other BlueTooth devices like iPhones and Android phones, as well as the in-car BlueTooth phone system of most cars – giving the EarSplash System multiple purposes.

EarSplash also has presets users can use out-of-the-box and also create and save their own custom settings.

The iWatch-based app makes using the controls easy with a relatively large control display as compared to the tiny hardware controls on traditional hearing aids. Because changes can be seen and made easily on the iWatch, users can make adjustments discretely during conversations – allowing the user to make adjustments unnoticed – and more importantly – without embarrassment.