Empowering everyone: Bluetooth® solutions for hearing, vision, speech, and mobility challenges

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.5 billion people require at least one assistive product to get through the day. Assistive products allow people to participate in more activities, regain their confidence, and enjoy a better life.

Bluetooth® technology continues to be essential in tearing down accessibility barriers, offering unique value to those faced with accessibility challenges. Its presence is ubiquitous across device types, it’s low power, and it has demonstrated the ability to support specific assistive applications.

ABI Research recently analyzed how Bluetooth® technology improves accessibility across visual, mobility, speech, and hearing accessibility.

Key takeaways

• Billions of people face accessibility challenges. These challenges impact an individual’s ability to see, move, speak, and hear. This can limit their career outlook, personal leisure, and social life.
• Bluetooth® technology helps remove accessibility barriers. Bluetooth® technology provides the wireless connectivity needed to design assistive products and enhance visitor experiences. Bluetooth® enabled screen readers, hearing aids, adaptive switches, and earbuds are common examples.
• Auracast™ broadcast audio is maturing. Auracast™ broadcast audio enables an audio stream to be sent to an unlimited number of nearby devices at the same time. This use case is revolutionizing assistive listening experiences, with the first public deployments materializing in 2025.

Why Bluetooth® connectivity pairs well with assistive products

Bluetooth® technology is embedded in a wide range of assistive products. Notable characteristics of Bluetooth® make it a popular choice:

• Low power consumption: Bluetooth® technology is ultra low power. This is beneficial for the many assistive products that are extremely small and have battery constraints.
• Ubiquitous presence in mobile and computing devices: Bluetooth® technology is already well-supported across all major device types. This ensures users can connect their assistive solution to their smartphone, PC, tablet, or other personal devices.
• In-ear audio readouts: Bluetooth® audio solutions provide discreet, in-ear guidance to users who have visual impairments. This could be directions to follow, a description of a museum piece, or similar details.
• Dedicated accessibility features: Bluetooth® features, such as Auracast™ broadcast audio, are designed to support specific accessibility use cases. There is strong potential for stadiums, convention centers, and other public venues to offer assistive products on a massive scale.
• Continued technology innovation: The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) remains at the cutting-edge of assistive technology. It continuously pushes the envelope in terms of innovation, ensuring Bluetooth® enabled devices meet the evolving needs of individuals faced with accessibility challenges.
• Diverse member ecosystem: There are many Bluetooth® IC vendors and other solution providers on the market. This competitiveness accelerates technological advancements as device manufacturers aim to differentiate themselves.

How does Bluetooth® support visual accessibility?

Bluetooth® technology is well-suited to assist the 2.2 billion people faced with vision challenges. Products such as Bluetooth® screen readers, braille displays, wearable devices, and smart glasses deliver on a wide range of accessibility-related applications.

• Bluetooth® screen readers: Bluetooth enabled screen readers provide text-to-speech capabilities. For example, they can read restaurant menus aloud for users with visual impairments.  
• Bluetooth® braille displays: People with visual accessibility challenges can use a Bluetooth braille display to read text, documents, and other information from their personal devices. Newer braille solutions can even pull information from charts, photos, floor plans, and other non-text visuals.
• Bluetooth® wearable navigation devices: Wearable devices, such as headsets and smart belts, leverage camera and machine learning technology to identify obstacles, describe the surrounding environment, and provide directions to a destination.
• Bluetooth® smart glasses: Smart glasses are designed to eradicate accessibility limitations. Bluetooth connectivity ensures that smart glasses support text-to-speech applications, automatic vision focus adjustment, and a companion app.

How does Bluetooth® support mobility accessibility?

Millions of people face mobility challenges every day, which can drastically reduce overall quality of life. Bluetooth® technology enables these individuals to live more independently and participate in a broader range of activities.

• Bluetooth® enabled wheelchair control systems: Bluetooth technology is leveraged in many wheelchairs and wheelchair control systems to make phone calls, send emails, control smart home devices, and complete other daily tasks. This reduces reliance on caregivers and increases the number of leisure activities that an individual can participate in.
• Assistive switches: Users of Bluetooth® enabled assistive switches have a means of controlling computing devices and interacting with their environment.
• Game controllers: Bluetooth® technology supports wireless connectivity between gaming accessories and the console/PC, allowing users can customize their controller’s joystick settings, sensitivity, and other characteristics.
• Wearables and electromyography (EMG) devices: A number of medical solutions are equipped with Bluetooth® technology to enable individuals faced with physical challenges to control devices and communicate. These innovative technologies interpret user intention based on gestures and muscle movement.
• Bluetooth® Mobility Aids: Mobility aids such as exoskeletons, prosthetics, and bionics leverage Bluetooth technology to wirelessly connect with companion apps. These solutions alleviate physical strain and assist in daily tasks like typing on a keyboard and carrying groceries.

How does Bluetooth® support speech accessibility?

Bluetooth technology supports speech accessibility through a variety of speech-generating devices. Users with MND, aphasia, and other speech-hindering conditions can use Bluetooth enabled devices to send messages and emails and make phone calls with a synthetic voice.

The National Institute of Health reports that roughly one out of ten adults in the United States has a speech, language, and/or voice disability. Bluetooth assistive devices help these individuals by gauging a user’s intention based on eye tracking and other physical signals. Furthermore, text-to-speech software gives a voice to those who previously did not.

ABI Research has observed a significant build-up of Auracast™ enabled products and deployments over the last 12 months.

• Hearing aids: Auracast™ broadcast audio is now widely supported by hearing aid manufacturers.
• Traditional receiver devices: Auracast™ broadcasts transmit top-notch audio to a user’s headphones or earbuds. For users who may feel uncomfortable wearing a hearing aid or only suffer from mild hearing loss, this Auracast™ use case is a viable alternative.
• Personal and in-home transmitters: Sony, Samsung, and many other leading consumer technology companies support Auracast™ broadcast audio in newer products. This is creating exciting new customer experiences and retrofit opportunities.
• Public venues: ABI Research estimates that more than 60 million venues globally could benefit from Auracast™ broadcast audio. Venues include places of worship, stadiums, transportation hubs, theatres, etc. Sydney Opera House, Bristol Temple Meads Station, and the Grace Lutheran Church are notable early adopters of Auracast™ broadcast audio.
• Countertop transmitters: Down the line, one-to-one deployments of Auracast™ broadcast audio will be a leading use case, enabling users to have a private conversation at public service counters and reception desks.
• Tour guides: Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions enable users to tune into an audio tour system at museums, tourist attractions, and similar venues.

Learn more

Bluetooth® connectivity isn’t just for listening to music or pairing with gaming accessories. It plays a vital role in helping those faced with accessibility challenges to gain access to more services, engage in activities, and improve their quality of life.  

Learn more about how Bluetooth technology and advanced features like Auracast™ broadcast audio leave a positive mark on the world by reading the latest market research note: When connection becomes inclusion: How Bluetooth® is redefining accessibility.