Accessibility Services
© ZAB - Bielefeld University
Inductive hearing systems
Inductive hearing systems can break down a number of barriers.
Using inductive hearing systems makes it easier for users of hearing aids and implants to understand speech without background noise. This helps those affected to concentrate better and prevents premature exhaustion in everyday study and work life. People who use hearing aids, implants or induction loop receivers that can be switched to T (= telecoil) can use induction technology.
People who quickly lose concentration and focus due to background noise can also benefit from the use of induction loop receivers. This can affect people with dyslexia, ADHD or autistic people, for example.
And last but not least, this technology can also help people to understand more when the presenter speaks a foreign language because they can concentrate in peace. Induction loop receivers can also be used in this case.
Permanently installed inductive hearing systems
There are permanently installed induction systems in some rooms on the university campus. Please note that sometimes only certain parts of a room (e.g. only in the area of the permanently installed rows of seats) are supplied via the inductive hearing system.
Note on use:
The permanently installed inductive hearing systems are automatically activated when the room microphone in the media console is used. It is also possible to transmit media played by devices connected to the console.
Important: It is necessary for lecturers or those responsible for a course to contact the technology & media services team and obtain the code for the microphones at the start date of each semester. The same person can also be contacted in the event of problems.
If the symbol indicating an induction loop is visible, the hearing aid, implant or induction loop receiver can be switched to the T position. The M/T setting is also possible. Depending on the hearing aid or implant, users must find out which setting is appropriate for their individual situation.
Mobile inductive hearing systems (for hire)
The following offer is aimed at hearing aid or implant wearers and is intended to facilitate participation in courses in presence. For this purpose, the ZAB - Accessibility Services (ZAB) of Bielefeld University offers the possibility to borrow the necessary equipment and is available to answer any questions you may have. If you are interested in borrowing equipment, you can arrange a consultation with the ZAB. How the technology can be used in practice is explained below.
Frontal teaching/lectures
- If available, teaching staff, instructors, lecturers should always use the room microphone.
- Lecturers can be asked to wear a transmitter/microphone (e.g. Roger Touchscreen Mic) (can be worn around the neck or clipped on).
- Users of assistive listening devices can connect to their devices via a receiver, if necessary to avoid background noise (e.g. Roger MyLink or Neckloop).
- Problem: Queries from other seminar participants are not transmitted.
- Possible solutions: Ask lecturers to repeat the question before answering or, if necessary, use handheld microphone(s) and pass them around (Roger Pass-Around). See group work.
Seminars
- If available, teaching staff, instructors, lecturers should always use the room microphone.
- Lecturers can be asked to wear a transmitter/microphone.
- Users of assistive listening devices can connect to their devices via a receiver to avoid noise interference (e.g. Roger MyLink or Neckloop).
- Other seminar participants can use hand-held microphones (Roger Pass-Around) - depending on the size of the group, these can be fixed, used in the corresponding holder or passed around. See group work.
Group work
- The mobile hearing aids are handy and can be transported to other rooms.
- If group work takes place in a room where other groups are also working, for example, previously used microphones at the other end of the room can be switched off for the duration of the group work so that only your own group can be heard.
Option 1:
- Possibility of giving one (moderating) person in the group a transmitter (Roger Touchscreen Mic) and the other group members use microphones (Roger Pass-Around, depending on group size, fixed in the holder or passed around). Hearing aid and implant wearers can connect via a receiver (e.g. Roger MyLink or Neckloop). This can reduce background noise and facilitate communication with group members.
Option 2, for small groups:
- Use the table microphones (e.g. Roger Table Mic recommended for up to 6 staff, people or Roger Select recommended for up to 4 staff, people). Simply place these in the middle of the group (recognises the direction of the person speaking, suppresses background noise). Hearing aid and implant wearers can connect via a receiver (e.g. Roger MyLink or Neckloop). This can reduce background noise and facilitate communication with group members.
Use without hearing aids or implants
People who do not use a hearing aid or implant, but who are dependent on less background noise, for example, can also use the loanable devices. In this case, headphones simply need to be plugged into the outputs provided on the receivers (Roger Neckloop or MyLink).
For deaf people
Regarding the options for deaf people to transcribe speech to text, a consultation appointment can be arranged with the ZAB accessibility services (ZAB ).