Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new device that uses artificial intelligence to quickly learn and recognize the speech of the user’s interlocutor. Unlike traditional noise-canceling headphones that block out external sounds, this new device only allows the voice of the interlocutor to be heard, even in noisy environments.
This innovative device works by learning and filtering out other voices, while enhancing the clarity of the interlocutor’s voice. The feature improves over time as the device continues to recognize and enhance the voice of the person speaking.
To activate the voice recognition feature, users simply need to look at their interlocutor for a few seconds while they are speaking and press a button on their headset. This allows the device to focus on and enhance the voice of their interlocutor while minimizing background noise.
The research team presented their invention at an information technology conference and published their findings on the University of Washington’s website. They also created a YouTube video demonstrating how these headphones work.
In addition to being used as full-sized headphones, future plans for this device include adding this feature to earbuds and hearing aids, providing users with more options for controlling which sounds are allowed through their devices. This technology could revolutionize how we communicate in noisy environments by allowing us to easily understand conversations without distractions from unwanted background noise.