The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fife firm’s solution for hearing impaired
Protective screens causing difficulties
A Fife firm has warned that protective screens installed as retailers and public buildings adapt to Covid-19 could impact millions of people in the UK with hearing difficulties.
Clear Audio Systems develops and installs speech enhancement systems for retailers and public buildings and is building stocks as it anticipates strong sales this year.
The Glenrothes company was established in 1993 and is one of the main UK players in the niche market with customers such as Ikea, Marks & Spencer and Scotrail.
Its microphone and speaker system resolves the problem of hearing clearly with screens.
Company director Martin McCloskey warned that hastily installed safety measures were inadvertently affecting the lives of those with hearing impairments.
“Some businesses, such as banks and bookmakers, are used to working from behind screens, but for a lot of people the screens will be new.
“Large plastic barrier screens are a fantastic way to help reduce the spread of Covid-19, but they can also cause huge difficulties for those with hearing impairments.
“What we are finding is that people have installed the screens and now find it’s hard to communicate with customers.
“In the main, mostly businesses are putting up with the inconvenience and difficulties at the moment. But once they realise that these screens may be a more permanent fixture, I think we will see a lot of demand towards the end of the year.”
Clear Audio Systems can retrospectively fit its solution and can also install hearing loop systems for people with hearing aids.
The company, which operates from Lomond Business Park, provides more than 1,000 systems a year UK-wide.
“We provide bespoke solutions and almost every installation we do is bespoke because it is an afterthought by the customers,” Mr McCloskey added.
“Some people might think it’s better to resort to cutting holes in the screen – but actually the cost to cut and polish the glass is almost twice the cost of putting our system in and then there isn’t the hygiene issue.”
St Andrews University was commissioned to help develop Clear Audio’s first system, with Marconi Civil Products in Dalgety Bay manufacturing the electronics.