Radio broadcasts are an extremely popular source of information, particularly with the elderly. However, hearing abilities decline as people ages, and many senior citizens complain that they can « hear the broadcast but don’t understand what’s being said because it goes by too fast. » This radio was designed to meet the increasing need for easy-to-understand audio.
The « RA-BF1 » features large-font, easily read Japanese labels and large operational buttons that arrayed to provide easy access to functions, and functions themselves have been limited to avoid clutter. The design has taken great care with the details, providing, for example, easily understood station selection marks so users can find their favorite stations quickly.
Japanese society is rapidly aging, and JVC has been in the forefront of the development of universal design products. Its goal is to produce « AV equipment that is easy for senior citizens to use. »
The « RA-BF1 » TV/FM/AM radio incorporates a newly developed « hearing aid system » that has three core components: the Slow Function (speech speed conversion), the Clear Function, and the Repeat Function. The result is « easier-to-hear broadcasting » and « improved comprehension of broadcasting content. » Designed for ease of use and the unit provides comfortable radio communications.
Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) launched on the Japanese market the « RA-BF1 » TV/FM/AM Radio, the first in a series of products incorporating the new « hearing aid system » *1 that was the subject of a technology announcement in March of this year. The system is comprised of three different technologies. The « Slow Function (speech speed conversion) » *2, « Clear Function » and « Repeat Function. » These functions convert broadcasts into clear, easily understood audio. The unit also incorporates universal design, with clear-font Japanese labels and large operating buttons.
The speaker unit uses a low-distortion vibrating plate to achieve high fidelity design that reduces fatigue during long term listening.
“Slow Function”
Realtime signal processing converts received audio so that it is heard at a slower speed even though the actual time required does not change. The speaking speed conversion process uses a unique algorithm that drops the speed at the beginning and then gradually increases it, producing a natural speed conversion that sounds as if the speaker is talking slowly on purpose.
« Clear Function »
Aging brings on a reduction in hearing abilities in which soft sounds are hard to hear and loud sounds are uncomfortable. The unit overcomes this with « spectrum division audio compression technology » that divides the audio spectrum so as to boost soft sounds and reduce loud sounds. The result is clear and easily understood audio. It also comes with a « News Mode » for broadcasts in which the human voice is key and a « Music Mode » for musical broadcasts for specific types of source sounds.
« Repeat Function » for another try when words are missed
The unit constantly stores broadcast content in memory (approximately 10 seconds) for instantaneous, one-button repeats of music titles, addresses (of companies seeking applications) and other broadcast content that may have been missed the first time around.