Clarity's C420 amplified telephone

Clarity, a division of Plantronics, has developed the C420 amplified telephone, a cordless unit designed to make phone conversations clearer and easier to understand for people with a mild to moderate hearing loss.

According to the manufacturers, the key difference between the C420 and standard amplified telephones is that standard phones intensify all sounds during a conversation. The C420 on the other hand, enhances the high frequency sounds often missed by those with a hearing loss while decreasing background noise. The Clarity C420 amplifies incoming sound up to 30 decibels and features caller ID with a 50 name and number memory. Other important features include a bright visual ringer in the base and handset that alerts the user to an incoming call, an ergonomic design for comfortable conversations, a customizable handset ringer, and a large lighted dial pad.

The Clarity C420 is available for a RRP of US$79.99.

Other recent developments in this field to cross our desk include news of research into smell based fire alarms and a hybrid hearing device that combines cochlear implant and hearing aid technologies.