Building on 25 years of innovation, Bluetooth® LE Audio enhances the performance of Bluetooth audio, adds standardized support for hearing aids, and introduces Auracast™ broadcast audio, a new capability that will enable an audio source device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, TV, or public sound systems) to broadcast one or more audio streams to an unlimited number of audio sink devices (e.g., earbuds, speakers, hearing aids, etc.).
Industry experts forecast swift adoption of Auracast™ broadcast audio across a wide range of audio markets.
Recently, Qualcomm released its annual State of Sound report. This report features a summary of research insights based on data from thousands of audio consumers around the world. The State of Sound research looks at audio device purchase drivers as well as interest in current and future use cases to better understand the features that today’s users look for in earbuds, headphones, speakers, and other audio products.
The following is an excerpt from the 2023 State of Sound report that focuses on Auracast™ broadcast audio.
Feature Focus: Bluetooth LE Audio
A new age of Bluetooth® technology is here. With the latest Bluetooth LE Audio specification, the way we experience audio is set to evolve. From Auracast™ broadcast audio and hearing assistance, to new use cases that have not been imagined yet, Bluetooth LE Audio has rekindled innovation in wireless audio and will set the stage for the next 20 years of innovation in the space.
Respondents are interested in a whole range of features that could be enabled by Auracast™ broadcast audio. When asked, “which of the following audio sharing experiences would you be interested in?” respondents were most interested in enhancing their hearing in social/ professional situations, connecting to a choice of screens when at a gym, airport departure boards, cinema screen, restaurant, etc., sharing music/video with friends on their earbuds/ headphones and more.
In fact, 75% of all audio device owners listed interest in at least one or more Auracast™ broadcast audio features.
MARKET RESEARCH
LE Audio: The Future of Bluetooth® Audio
Get new forecasts about when and which audio devices will adopt Auracast™ broadcast audio, along with predictions for when public locations will deploy this new Bluetooth capability to enable new audio use cases in their venues.
Hearing Enhancement is an Emerging Use Case for Personal Audio
As the capabilities of audio platforms and technologies evolve—an emerging use case is hearing enhancement to help users communicate and listen more clearly. Hearing enhancement is not only for the hearing impaired; 61% of respondents said they struggle to hear in busy workplaces, lecture halls and meeting rooms. Additionally, 29% are using earbuds to block out background noise.
Respondents this year have indicated hearing enhancement is becoming a more important purchase driver, with 24% listing hearing assistance/ enhancement as a key factor they would consider when purchasing their next earbuds. Interestingly, when splitting by age, this demand was higher in the ages 18-44 (27%) category vs. 45-64 (20%)
Consumers are interested in improving their hearing experience with audio devices. 60% of respondents listed hearing personalization (one-time hearing test for personalized audio) as a likely purchase driver for their next earbuds/ headphones. This was highest in China and India, at over 80%.
This year’s responses suggest that hearing enhancement could become more mainstream in the personal audio market in the future, and paired with technologies such as Auracast™ broadcast audio, listeners will benefit from these newer technologies, which will help them engage with the world around them.
Learn more about Bluetooth® LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio, and download the full 2023 State of Sound report.
FEATURED INNOVATION
Auracast™ Broadcast Audio
Auracast™ broadcast audio will deliver life-changing audio experiences that will enhance the way you engage with others and the world around you.
25年にわたる技術革新を基に策定されたBluetooth®︎ LE Audioは、Bluetoothオーディオの性能を向上させ、補聴器のための技術標準を追加したほか、音源機器（スマートフォン、タブレット、テレビ、放送設備など）から受信範囲内にあるオーディオ受信デバイス（イヤホン、スピーカー、補聴器など）に台数の制限なく、一つ以上のオーディオストリームを配信できる新機能、Auracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオを新たに登場させました。
業界専門家は、Auracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオがオーディオ関連の幅広い市場で迅速に普及していくとの予測を示しています。
このほど、Qualcomm は年次の「State of Sound」レポートを発表しました。同報告書では、世界各地で数千人のオーディオ製品ユーザーを対象に行った調査結果の概要を示しています。オーディオ機器の購入動機と、現在および将来のユースケースに対する関心を見ていくことで、今日のユーザーがイヤホン、ヘッドホン、スピーカーをはじめとするオーディオ製品に求める未来の姿をより良く理解することを企図しています。
以下は、2023年 State of Sound レポートにおいてAuracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオに焦点を当てた箇所の抜粋です。
注目の機能：Bluetooth LE Audio
Bluetooth®︎技術が新時代を迎えました。最新のLE Audio仕様により、私たちのオーディオ体験はさらなる進化に向け歩み出しています。Auracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオと聴覚補助に始まり、いまだ想像もされなかった新しいユースケースに至るまで、LE Audioはワイヤレスオーディオにおけるイノベーションを再び活性化し、同分野における今後20年のイノベーションの舞台を整えつつあります。
本調査の回答者の多くが、Auracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオが実現する機能の全領域にわたり関心を抱いています。「以下の選択肢から関心のあるオーディオ共有体験を選んでください」という問いに対しては、大部分の回答者が「交流や仕事の場での聞こえの向上」、「ジム、空港の搭乗案内、映画、レストランなどで選択した画面に接続して音声を聴く」、「各自のイヤホン/ヘッドホンを使用して友人と音楽/動画を共有する」などの項目に関心を示しました。
実際に全オーディオデバイス所有者の75%に該当する回答者が、Auracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオ機能の1つ以上に関心を示しています。
パーソナルオーディオ分野で台頭する「聞こえの向上」のユースケース
オーディオプラットフォームや技術が進化するにつれ、新たに台頭しつつあるユースケースが、コミュニケーションに役立ち、よりクリアな聞こえを可能にするための「聞こえの向上」です。この聞こえの向上は聴覚障害者だけを対象としたものではありません。回答者の61%が、騒がしい職場や講堂、会議室での聞き取りに苦労があると回答しています。また回答者の29%は、周囲の雑音を遮断するためにイヤホンを使用しています。
本年の回答者によると、聞こえの向上がより重要な購入動機となっている状況が伺われます。回答者の24%が、次にイヤホンを購入する際に検討する重要項目として聴覚補助/強化機能を挙げています。興味深いことに、年齢別にみた場合、このニーズは45歳から64歳（20%）に対し、18歳から44歳（27%）でより高くなっています。
オーディオデバイスを使用して音声体験を向上させることに、消費者は関心を持っています。回答者の60%が、次にイヤホン/ヘッドホンを購入する際の要因としてパーソナライゼーション（オーディオを購入者に合わせてパーソナライズするための一度限りのヒアリングテスト）を候補に挙げました。この傾向は中国とインドで最も高く、80%を超えています。
本年調査に寄せられた回答は、聞こえの向上がパーソナルオーディオ市場で将来的にいっそう主流となっていく可能性を示しています。Auracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオのような技術と組み合わせることにより、周囲の世界との関りをより豊かにするこれらの新しい技術の恩恵がユーザーへともたらされるでしょう。
Bluetooth®︎ LE AudioとAuracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオの詳細をご確認ください。2023年「State of Sound」レポートの完全版はこちらからダウンロードいただけます。
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