Meet WIDEX at the High Tech Summit

Leading hearing aid manufacturer Widex works with researchers at DTU to create ground-breaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications.

Launched in April 2018, WIDEX EVOKE is the world’s first hearing aid with real-time machine learning (ML) technology. For the first time, it is possible for a hearing aid to learn from the user’s input and preferences.

Since machine learning and related artificial intelligence disciplines are to occupy a large space at the High Tech Summit 2018 at DTU, it was a natural decision for Widex to participate.

“We look forward to present the EVOKE case at the event. The product is a great example of an industrial solution inspired by academic research.”
Says Morten Løve Jepsen, Senior Manager in Global Research & Development at Widex.

The innovative hearing aid features intuitive controls guiding its user quickly with no need to remember issues with specific listening situations to explain to their audiologist later. The combination of user input and machine learning allows the device to become smarter as time passes.

In the future, EVOKE hearing aids will be able to learn from anonymous global user input. In other words, a user in Denmark may benefit from input of a user overseas.

Inspired by research efforts by Professor Jan Larsen’s group at DTU Compute, Widex hired Jens Brehm Bagger Nielsen as an Industrial PhD with Larsen as main supervisor. By the end of the 3-year project in 2014, it was clear that the potential for a ground-breaking product did exist.

“Obviously, it has taken some time for us to convert research findings into a product ready for the market. This will always be the case. But the main thing here is how the Industrial PhD project laid the ground. I would say, this has been a genuine example of how Industrial PhD projects can really make a difference.”
Says Morten Løve Jepsen.