Plexiglass panes, splash guards and hygiene walls: Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, transparent plastic screens have been protecting staff, patients and customers alike. At the same time, they severely restrict communication when shopping, travelling or visiting the doctor. WHD presents the VoiceBridge, a new, hygienic and flexible solution especially for acrylic glass walls and cabins in medical practices, shops and supermarkets or for visitor boxes in nursing homes. The modern, fully automatic intercom system with noise cancellation and echo compensation ensures clear communication despite coronavirus protection measures.

The Coronavirus Dilemma: Protection for All Makes Conversation Difficult

Interpersonal communication is a social event and an exchange of relevant information. Gestures, facial expressions and the sound of the voice are important factors. But it is precisely here, when speaking, that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted through droplets and aerosols. Keeping distance, wearing a mask and acrylic glass panes reduce the risk of infection, but at the same time make clear, understandable communication difficult. This can be dangerous: If you can barely understand the person you are talking to, you reflexively move closer, lean forward or around the protective screen. If you raise your voice and speak louder, demonstrably more potentially infectious aerosols are released. This problem affects all professional groups with customer or patient contact. And communication with relatives in old people's and nursing homes can also be frustrating due to visiting bans and protective screens. WHD solves this problem with the newly developed VoiceBridge intercom system. This bridges verbal exchanges even over greater distances and facilitates interpersonal communication.

The VoiceBridge: Effortless Communication Despite Protective Screen

The WHD VoiceBridge consists of two 86×111mm and 18mm flat, white intercom boxes. These are attached to the inside and outside of the respective acrylic glass pane with integrated mirror adhesive tape. Each intercom unit contains a microphone and loudspeaker, so that customers and staff can communicate with each other safely, effortlessly and understandably despite distance and protective screen. Should the panes need to be replaced, the intercom boxes can be detached and reattached to the new acrylic glass. No specialist electrician is required for commissioning, as the VoiceBridge only needs to be attached, the boxes connected with the supplied cables and the mains plug plugged into the socket. Privacy and data protection are maintained, as the VoiceBridge operates autonomously and is not integrated into existing systems via WLAN or Bluetooth.

"Shortly after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, we became aware of the numerous communication problems caused by the newly erected protective measures. We wanted to offer a solution here and developed the VoiceBridge. In this way, we contribute to adequately protecting staff, customers and patients and reducing moments of frustration."
- Stefan Huber, Managing Director WHD

Hygienic Handling: Activation via Infrared Sensors

Hygienic considerations played a major role in the development of the VoiceBridge. Therefore, the intercom unit on the outside (customers / patients) is activated via infrared sensors as soon as a person approaches the checkout area or reception desk. The only button is located on the internally mounted intercom unit, which staff can use to switch the system on and off and mute the microphones if desired. LED lights (red / green) indicate the microphone's activation status. The intercom boxes can be easily cleaned with commercially available cleaning and surface disinfectants.

Noise Cancellation and Echo Compensation: Intelligibility on Both Sides

In addition, the VoiceBridge is equipped with a chip with an innovative algorithm that enables two further special features: Noise Elimination (NE) and Acoustic Echo Compensation (AEC). Noise cancellation filters out constantly present background noise, such as ventilation systems, noisy road traffic, music and other conversations, significantly reduces it and thus optimizes intelligibility. The echo compensation technology in the microphones prevents disruptive echoes that can be caused by delayed sound reproduction via the loudspeakers. The system's volume is optimally set ex works, but can still be adjusted if necessary. 

"Conventional intercom systems and microphones usually have to be integrated into existing systems, are often expensive and involve extensive training for staff. Most of them require a footprint, require a button press for activation and require you to go close to the microphone to speak. All of this is eliminated with the VoiceBridge."
- Denis Lewschow, Product Manager WHD

VoiceBridge: An Intercom System for All Areas

Both the simple installation and the built-in technology make the VoiceBridge an optimal communication aid for all professional groups whose communication with customers and patients is protected, but also restricted, by protective screens. This is especially true for markets with high customer frequency, shops with louder background music and places that are important for older people with reduced hearing, such as pharmacies or doctor's surgeries. In general, the VoiceBridge is designed for all areas, indoors and outdoors. This includes checkout areas and counters of shops, supermarkets and petrol stations, reception desks of hotels and restaurants, information counters in airports and train stations, as well as driver's cabins of buses and taxis. In the newly established visitor areas of old people's and nursing homes, the VoiceBridge also makes an important contribution to effortless communication between residents and their relatives. The added value for the respective operators is obvious: Better infection protection protects both sides from infections. Employees no longer find the new communication situation strenuous, and customer satisfaction also increases. With the VoiceBridge, the business presents a good and professional overall impression.

The VoiceBridge is available here for €199.90.