UAIA Gets an Exclusive Look at the
Latest Bluetooth® Audio InnovationUAIAでBluetoothオーディオの最新イノベーション披露

Last week, the Universal Access in Aviation (UAIA) conference was held in Seattle, Washington where stakeholders and enthusiasts from all over the world had a chance to learn from industry experts about the future of innovations for airports, airlines, airline service companies, suppliers, and more. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group’s (SIG) own Chuck Sabin, senior director of market development, was on hand to discuss key emerging use cases and upcoming enhancements to Bluetooth^® technology like Auracast™ broadcast audio.

Auracast ™broadcast audio is a new Bluetooth capability that will deliver enhanced audio experiences to help your world sound better. Not a traditional Bluetooth paired experience, Auracast™ broadcast audio allows transmitters (e.g., smartphone, tablet, PC, public transmitter, etc.) to broadcast high-quality audio to an unlimited number of in-range receivers (e.g., headphones, earbuds, hearing aids, etc.). Auracast™ broadcast audio will let you share your audio with the people closest to you, unmute silent TVs in public spaces, and will let you hear your best wherever you go.

Sharing Your Audio

With Auracast™ broadcast audio, you will soon be able to invite friends and family around you to share in your personal Bluetooth audio experience. They will be able to search for your broadcast (much in the same way we search for available Wi-Fi networks now), enter the password provided by your smartphone, and join in.

“We’ve all been in a situation where we’re using our earbuds, headphones, or hearing device to listen to music on our smartphone or watch a movie on our laptop, and we want someone we’re with to hear what we’re hearing and watch along with us,” said Sabin. “Fortunately, smartphones, tablets, and laptops are already beginning to add Auracast™ broadcast audio to their list of capabilities, so you’ll soon be able to let others around you use their own hearing device or hearing instrument to join in and listen. The next time you’re watching a movie or listening to music while waiting for your flight at the airport, you’ll be able to share that experience with those you’re traveling with.”

Unmuting Silent TVs

Many TVs in public spaces are often silent; you can watch, but you cannot hear the audio that accompanies what you are seeing. Thanks to Auracast™ broadcast audio, you will soon be able to hear audio from silent TVs like those in airports, gymnasiums, waiting rooms, sports bars, transit centers, and others.

“Airport sports bars provide a good example of how Auracast™ broadcast audio can enhance your travel experience,” said Sabin. “You can watch the game, but you can’t hear what’s going on. Something is missing from that experience, and Auracast™ broadcast audio is going to change that by letting you tune in directly to the TV you want to hear. You’ll even be able to switch between multiple TV broadcasts without any delay or degradation in audio quality.”