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The infinite possibilities of bionic ears

Wearable technologies are everywhere, but they have not yet been configured for the ear.

EERS

According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people are exposed to avoidable risks of hearing loss, either at work or during their leisure hours. The goal of the ÉTS-EERS Industrial Research Chair in In-Ear Technologies (CRITIAS – Chaire de recherche industrielle ÉTS-EERS en technologies intra-auriculaires), which was created in 2010, is to respond to this major public health concern by developing leading-edge technology built on original hardware platforms for in-ear instrumentation of the human ear using audio-signal processing and bio-signal extraction algorithms.

This technology will enable EERS Global Technologies Inc., a long-standing industrial partner of ÉTS, to commercialize various families of in-ear wearables for hearing protection and augmentation, two-way communication and brain-computer interfaces for the industrial, medical, consumer and military markets.

Research activities

CRITIAS has access to unique facilities at ÉTS, and is able to draw on the talent of some twenty students and researchers. It also benefits from the financial support of the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), PROMPT and Mitacs.

Our research activities focus on the following five areas:

  • Digital Hearing Protection
  • Communication in Noise
  • In-Ear Biosensing
  • In-Ear Neurostimulation
  • Micro-Energy Harvesting
For more information concerning our areas of research
Jérémie Voix, Chairholder of Industrial Research Chair in In-Ear Technologies
AT CRITIAS, WE SEE THE EAR CANAL AS AN OPEN WINDOW INTO THE HUMAN BODY Icon
Jérémie Voix Chairholder

Jérémie Voix is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at ÉTS, and has held the ÉTS-EERS Industrial Research Chair in In-Ear Technologies since 2010. Recognized as an expert in acoustic research, Professor Voix has twenty years of experience in fighting against high-noise work environments.

Learn more

CRITIAS is recruiting

  • Are you interested in acoustics, audio, signal processing and portable technologies? We are always looking for talented students! Find out more about our work.
  • Would you rather take part in experiments involving acoustics? Find out about our upcoming tests. Participants receive compensation.
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