Annual Report 2010/11 - Sonova
Annual Report 2010/11 - Sonova Annual Report 2010/11 - Sonova
22 real time between hearing instruments, StereoZoom overcomes the challenge of holding a one-to-one conversation in noisy environments. During telephone conversations DuoPhone transmits the signal in real time from the ear against which the receiver is held to the other ear for optimum comprehension. SoundRecover SoundRecover, an innovation based on CORE technology, was integrated in all Phonak hearing instruments available on the market in 2010 and thus across all price-performance classes and form factors and for all degrees of hearing loss. SoundRecover compresses incoming signals in the high-frequency range, which people with hearing loss are no longer able to perceive. It then transposes them to a lower frequency range so that they are audible again. Adaptive intelligence Adaptive intelligence allows wearers of the latest hearing instrument models to adapt to everyday situations in real time. The self-learning FlexControl algorithm controls the SoundFlow automatic system and adapts the settings intelligently to the hearing instrument wearer and their environment. The system classifies sound environments so that it recognizes the intention behind manual inputs, allowing it to respond appropriately but variably to the same input. Second-generation SoundFlow analyzes the acoustic environment on the basis of up to 46 sound attributes to generate an infinite number of situation-specific automatic hearing programs. The hearing instrument stores the preferred settings and the corresponding parameters. Over time the system responds as desired without the need for manual adjustments. Tailored fitting To optimally meet the individual needs of the wearer, every hearing instrument should be fitted by a hearing care professional. During the fitting process the system is adjusted to the end customer’s personal preferences and hearing loss with the help of special software developed by the manufacturer. Sonova’s Phonak Target is the first fitting software developed in close cooperation with hearing care professionals and precisely tailored to their needs. Target is the first program to adapt flexibly to the hearing care professional’s fitting style rather than prescribing a rigid process. Price-performance classes Hearing instruments are available in various price-performance classes, which each manufacturer groups into its own categories. Performance is defined primarily by the functions offered by the hearing system. Sonova divides its hearing instruments into first, business, economy, and basic class – the latter being combined with economy class. In financial year 2010/11, Phonak introduced a complete product range based on the new Spice platform that covers every price-performance class: the premium model Phonak Ambra, the business model Solana and the economy solution Cassia. In addition, the new range includes the new Audéo S portfolio, a refinement of the proven Audéo CRT family, the Audéo ZIP in-the-ear model and the Audéo S SMART Ceramic, the first hearing instrument using high-performance ceramic technology. The current range is completed by CROS, the solution for people with unilateral or unequal hearing loss. Unitron has introduced the Moxi 3G, a new CRT product family that covers every price-performance class. In the economy segment, the Unitron Shine is a highperformance BTE model at an affordable price. Improved speech intelligibility through FM systems Frequency-modulated (FM) systems improve speech intelligibility in noisy environments and over large distances. They consist of a microphone, an FM transmitter and an FM receiver. The speaker is equipped with a transmitter. The listener wears a receiver that is connected to the audio input of their hearing instrument or cochlear implant. The audio signals are conveyed from the transmitter to the receiver by radio waves, so that the voice of the speaker is transmitted directly to the listener’s hearing system. Background noises and echoes are thus eliminated. FM systems are particularly suitable for use by schoolchildren with hearing loss during lessons. The Dynamic FM platform of Phonak, the market leader in the field of wireless communication systems for audiological applications, is the most advanced FM solution in the industry. Compared to conventional FM systems, Dynamic FM enables much better speech intelligibility in noisy environments. Studies have shown that Dynamic FM improves speech intelligibility for users of hearing instruments and cochlear implants by more than 50%. In financial year 2010/11, Phonak introduced Dynamic SoundField, an FM system for improved speech intelligibility in classrooms, thus tapping a promising market segment. The system amplifies the teacher’s voice without magnifying the overall noise level in the classroom. Children both with or without
LYRIC – THE “CONTACT LENS FOR THE EAR” OVERCOMES ALL ENTRY BARRIERS On average it takes people with hearing loss up to ten years to decide to wear a hearing instrument. The reasons most often cited for hesitating so long are prejudices with regard to esthetics, handling, comfort, sound quality, and social barriers. Lyric is the first hearing instrument to satisfactorily address all the objections of end customers: – Esthetics: Lyric is placed invisibly deep in the ear canal, 4 mm in front of the eardrum. – Handling: Lyric can be worn round the clock for up to four months at a time, doing away with the need for daily insertion, regular cleaning, and battery changing. – Sound quality: because it is placed deep in the ear, Lyric takes advantage of the natural function of the pinna to produce a particularly natural sound experience. – Comfort: with Lyric people can engage in daily activities and forget they are wearing a hearing instrument, even while playing sports, showering, phoning, or driving. Lyric has the potential to revolutionize attitudes to hearing loss and hearing instruments and to become the first hearing instrument that end users actively ask for. Hearing care professionals who become Lyric partners therefore benefit from numerous advantages: – Lyric makes it possible to tap new customer segments and to attract first-time users into stores. HEARING INSTRUMENTS – Lyric wearers return regularly to their hearing care professional to have the unit replaced, resulting in strong customer loyalty. – Lyric ensures plannable long-term revenue thanks to the subscription model. – Lyric offers rapid results and a high level of customer satisfaction. The unit can be digitally adjusted quickly and easily, and once in place end customers can immediately enjoy a new hearing experience. – Lyric offers the opportunity to increase sales of other hearing instruments. If it turns out that Lyric is unsuitable for an interested customer, they are all the more likely to opt for a conventional model. 23
- Page 1 and 2: THE HEARING CARE COMPANY All the So
- Page 3 and 4: highLightS & Key figureS - New sale
- Page 5 and 6: 02 Foreword 06 Sonova Group 16 Hear
- Page 7 and 8: from 2002 to 2004 and subsequently
- Page 9 and 10: eaKinG barrierS - with talent and t
- Page 11 and 12: ON THE WAY TO BECOMING A GLOBAL HEA
- Page 13 and 14: and a global distribution network e
- Page 15 and 16: THE SONOVA GROUP No hearring loosss
- Page 17 and 18: Better hearing for people with norm
- Page 19 and 20: StraiGHt From real liFe - cowboy ha
- Page 21 and 22: THE HEARING INSTRUMENT MARKET - CON
- Page 23 and 24: THE PHONAK SPICE GENERATION - THE S
- Page 25: WIDE RANGE OF HEARING INSTRUMENTS T
- Page 29 and 30: Sonova is investing heavily in the
- Page 31 and 32: Eight years later, Evelyn almost co
- Page 33 and 34: THE HEARING IMPLANTS SEGMENT In the
- Page 35 and 36: The considerable strategic importan
- Page 37 and 38: ABOUT ADVANCED BIONICS Advanced Bio
- Page 39 and 40: worKinG - and communicating safely
- Page 41 and 42: EMPLOYEES FOCUS ON PEOPLE One of th
- Page 43 and 44: ISO 9001:2000 and 13485:2003 certif
- Page 45 and 46: The key environmental data shown in
- Page 47 and 48: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AT THE ST
- Page 49 and 50: CAMBODIA - BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
- Page 51 and 52: Better hearing - better success at
- Page 53 and 54: in critical moments. As a consequen
- Page 55 and 56: CrOSS-SHArEHOLDInGS Sonova Holding
- Page 57 and 58: BOArD Of DIrECTOrS The primary duty
- Page 59 and 60: Andy rihs Co-founder, non-executive
- Page 61 and 62: onald van der Vis non-executive mem
- Page 63 and 64: AuDIT COMMITTEE The members of the
- Page 65 and 66: Alexander Zschokke Interim CEO, GVP
- Page 67 and 68: Dr Hans Leysieffer GVP research & D
- Page 69 and 70: COmPenSatiOn and SharehOldingS - co
- Page 71 and 72: The shares/rSus have a blocking per
- Page 73 and 74: COMPEnSATIOn TO MEMBErS Of THE MAnA
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LYRIC – THE “CONTACT LENS<br />
FOR THE EAR” OVERCOMES ALL<br />
ENTRY BARRIERS<br />
On average it takes people with hearing loss up to ten years<br />
to decide to wear a hearing instrument. The reasons most<br />
often cited for hesitating so long are prejudices with regard<br />
to esthetics, handling, comfort, sound quality, and social<br />
barriers.<br />
Lyric is the first hearing instrument to satisfactorily address<br />
all the objections of end customers:<br />
– Esthetics: Lyric is placed invisibly deep in the ear canal,<br />
4 mm in front of the eardrum.<br />
– Handling: Lyric can be worn round the clock for up to<br />
four months at a time, doing away with the need for<br />
daily insertion, regular cleaning, and battery changing.<br />
– Sound quality: because it is placed deep in the ear,<br />
Lyric takes advantage of the natural function of the pinna<br />
to produce a particularly natural sound experience.<br />
– Comfort: with Lyric people can engage in daily activities<br />
and forget they are wearing a hearing instrument, even<br />
while playing sports, showering, phoning, or driving.<br />
Lyric has the potential to revolutionize attitudes to hearing<br />
loss and hearing instruments and to become the first<br />
hearing instrument that end users actively ask for. Hearing<br />
care professionals who become Lyric partners therefore<br />
benefit from numerous advantages:<br />
– Lyric makes it possible to tap new customer segments and<br />
to attract first-time users into stores.<br />
HEARING INSTRUMENTS<br />
– Lyric wearers return regularly to their hearing care professional<br />
to have the unit replaced, resulting in strong<br />
customer loyalty.<br />
– Lyric ensures plannable long-term revenue thanks to the<br />
subscription model.<br />
– Lyric offers rapid results and a high level of customer satisfaction.<br />
The unit can be digitally adjusted quickly and<br />
easily, and once in place end customers can immediately<br />
enjoy a new hearing experience.<br />
– Lyric offers the opportunity to increase sales of other<br />
hearing instruments. If it turns out that Lyric is unsuitable<br />
for an interested customer, they are all the more<br />
likely to opt for a conventional model.<br />
23
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