Next-generation wireless audio technology expands access from hearing aids to standard Bluetooth earphones; upgrades completed at 50 smart shelters, with on-site demonstration and new IoT-based remote monitoring system now in place
Seongdong-gu in Seoul has completed performance upgrades to hearing loop systems at all 50 of its smart bus shelters, the district said, making bus arrival announcements more accessible to all residents.
A hearing loop is an assistive audio system that helps people using hearing aids or cochlear implants clearly receive voice information such as bus arrival announcements. Seongdong-gu first introduced hearing loops at its smart shelters in November 2023.
The latest upgrade involved replacing hearing loop equipment at 47 existing shelters and installing the system at three new locations. Particularly notable is the addition of Bluetooth audio — a next-generation wireless voice transmission technology — while retaining the existing T-coil (telecoil) mode for hearing aid and cochlear implant users. The expansion means residents using standard Bluetooth earphones can now also benefit from the system.
After completing the upgrades, the district held an on-site demonstration on Sept. 17, inviting hearing-impaired residents and members of the general public to test the next-generation wireless audio technology and evaluate its ease of use firsthand.
At the event, both telecoil hearing aid users and residents wearing standard Bluetooth earphones confirmed they could clearly hear bus arrival announcements inside the shelters without interference from surrounding noise.
Alongside this, the district demonstrated its newly built IoT-based real-time remote monitoring system. The system allows staff to monitor the power status, connectivity, and operational condition of hearing loop devices at each smart shelter around the clock via computer or mobile device, enabling rapid detection of malfunctions and prompt response.
"Even small daily constraints — like having to rely solely on a display board for bus information — can accumulate into gaps in life opportunities and experiences," District Mayor Yoo Bo-hwa said. "We will continue to look closely at invisible inequalities like this and use technology to address them, so that everyone can enjoy equal opportunities in daily life."
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