Samsung Electronics marked Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025 with a powerful message on inclusivity, closing its Accessibility Festival Week in the UK with a pioneering sound experience at London’s iconic St Paul’s Cathedral. The event highlighted Samsung’s cutting-edge Auracast technology, enabling shared audio for both Galaxy Buds and hearing aid users, and reinforcing its vision for accessible innovation.
Inclusive Audio in an Iconic Venue
Live Auracast Demonstration at St Paul’s Cathedral
In collaboration with hearing-aid leader GN and audio technology provider Ampetronic, Samsung gave attendees a first-of-its-kind sound experience using Auracast technology. Through Galaxy Buds3 Pro or GN hearing aids, participants joined a guided tour and listened to choir performances with crystal clarity, thanks to direct audio broadcasts that reduced echo and background noise.
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What Is Auracast and LE Audio?
Revolutionizing Shared Listening
Auracast is a feature of Bluetooth’s LE (Low Energy) Audio, allowing a single audio source to stream simultaneously to multiple receivers. Introduced in 2022 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, LE Audio improves power efficiency and sound quality.
For users with hearing aids or wireless earbuds, this means:
- Shared listening experiences in public venues like cathedrals or museums
- Personalized audio settings to match hearing preferences
- Seamless audio transitions from smartphones to TVs or public spaces
Samsung has been a key driver of LE Audio adoption, incorporating it into Galaxy Buds2 Pro and launching 360 Audio Recording features to enhance accessibility.
Samsung’s Ongoing Commitment to Accessibility
Bridging Consumer Tech and Hearing Aids
Samsung’s integration of Auracast demonstrates its goal to unify personal and assistive listening. Whether in public settings like stadiums or private environments like the home, the company is striving to make inclusive, barrier-free audio experiences the norm.
Statement from Samsung UK
Charlotte Grant, Head of People Experience at Samsung UK, said:
“We are proud of our commitment to accessibility through innovation. Partnering with GN and Ampetronic to bring Auracast to St Paul’s Cathedral offered an exciting opportunity to showcase how inclusive technology can elevate shared experiences.”
Accessibility Festival Week Highlights
Samsung’s third annual Accessibility Festival Week included:
- Inspiration tours of inclusive design at Samsung KX and Google’s Discovery Centre
- Staff accessibility workshops
- A keynote session by Samsung Europe CEO Simon Sung and Accessibility Committee Head Jinsoo Kim
- Insight into Samsung’s long-term accessibility strategy
The Need for Inclusive Design in Tech
A Samsung UK and OnePoll survey revealed that:
- 68% of UK adults with disabilities feel excluded due to poor product accessibility
- 72% have abandoned purchases due to inaccessible design
- 80% believe brands miss opportunities by neglecting inclusive design
These findings reflect the importance of Samsung’s ongoing efforts to directly involve users with disabilities in the product design process.
Closing Thoughts
Samsung’s celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day at St Paul’s Cathedral represents a significant step in redefining how technology can foster inclusion. Through innovations like Auracast, the company is not only enhancing personal audio but also creating shared experiences that are accessible to all.
This article is originally published on : samsung
