The Australian company behind the breakthrough hearing technology device set to revolutionize industrial workplaces has been named one of the world’s most promising new companies at Launch: Silicon Valley 2008, held by The Silicon Valley Association of Start-up Entrepreneurs (SVASE) and hosted by Microsoft at their Silicon Valley campus in California.
Hearing technology leader Sensear Pty Ltd was one of 30 international companies, selected from 266 applicants, participating in the event. Launch Silicon Valley 2008 is a high-profile international forum held in the USA to assist emerging technology companies to profile their newly commercialized products.
Sensear was named the winner of the Life Sciences category and the honor of “Most Likely to Succeed”.
“Launch Silicon Valley 2008 provided us with a unique opportunity as an emerging technology company to launch our products to a worldwide audience,” he said. “The follow on interest and coverage has been
enormous”.
Mr. Miller said that initiatives such as the US forum would assist Sensear to make inroads into the international hearing protection products market which is worth about $1 billion per annum.
"The event was a smashing success, with well over 300 people attending. We think the audience, comprising venture capitalists, media, angels, and corporate executives, had a chance to preview some of the most innovative and compelling start-ups in the marketplace today," said Chris Gill, President, and CEO of SVASE. "We look forward to monitoring the future successes of these companies."
Sensear commenced shipping its award-winning products in April 2008 and has now sold its revolutionary electronic earplug to more than 50 companies in Australia, the USA, Europe, China, and the UK.
The electronic earplug, developed by a group of engineers in Perth, minimizes dangerous industrial noise but allows face-to-face, mobile phone, and two-way radio communication.
Mr. Miller said that the SP1 electronic earplug had the potential to completely revolutionize hearing
protection products.
“We feel confident that a product of this caliber could capture a significant slice of the worldwide market,” he said.
The product uses technology based on sophisticated algorithms which suppress industrial and other very loud noise to a safe level but allow speech to remain clear and audible.
“Previously people working in noisy environments could wear hearing protection but they could not
effectively communicate with each other.
“This has been a huge impediment to productivity and safety,” said Mr. Miller.
He said that the electronic earplug could dramatically reduce the incidence of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
(NIHL) in the workplace.
“NIHL is major health and safety issue in our workplaces particularly for people working in transport, construction, manufacturing, and mining industries.
“It takes only two minutes exposure to very loud noise before permanent hearing damage takes place,” he
said.
Sensear’s product was recognized as one of Australia’s best new products in the Australian International
Design Awards competition announced last month. An earmuff version will be released later this year.
MEDIA CONTACT
Justin Miller
Managing Director & CEO
Sensear Pty Ltd
Phone: + 61 8 6488 8120
Greg Beale
Vice President Sales and Marketing
Sensear Pty Ltd
Phone: + 61 3 9935 2781
About Sensear
Founded in 2006 in Perth, Sensear Pty Ltd also has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, and Los Angeles.
Its world-first technology is based on sophisticated algorithms which suppress industrial and other very loud noise to a safe level but allow speech to remain clear and audible.
Sensear has incorporated the technology into the world’s first electronic earplug enabling face-to-face, mobile phone, and two-way radio communication. An earmuff version will be available soon.
This has the potential to dramatically reduce the incidence of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) in the workplace. NIHL is the world’s most common and costly workplace illness. It cannot be reversed but it can be prevented. Most commonly caused by industrial noise, NIHL can occur also as a result of exposure to loud noise in pubs, nightclubs, concerts, and major events
Award-winning innovation
- Winner Medical and Healthcare category of the 2008 DuPont Innovation Awards.
- Winner 2008 Best Newcomer Safety in Action Award.
- Winner 2008 Western Australian Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards
(WAITTA) Innovation category. - Winner 2007 Australian Information Industry Award Healthcare category
- Winner 2007 Australian Information Industry Award Research and Development Category
