Barkings, traffic or construction noises can be frightening for people with autism and hearing disorders. Unfear is the first intelligent noise cancellation app that protects people with acoustic sensitivity from stressful noises. An advanced AI tool that continuously listens, pinpointing every sound before cross-referencing in real-time with thousands of audio libraries to suppress only the noises that affect the user.

This audio solution goes beyond existing noise cancellation, because it’s a technology that can be customized to assist each user according to their needs and the sounds that bother them.

It has been developed and tested together with otorhinolaryngologists and has the scientific endorsement of the Spanish Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health.

Situation: Globally, 70M people are on the autism spectrum (ASD). They suffer panic attacks or anxiety crises due to hyperacusis, a hearing sensitivity to specific noises, such as barks, sirens or construction works.

Brief: Actual noise cancellation technology blocks all noises for people with autism. But this also isolates them. Samsung needed a smart and universal solution to suppress the noises without limiting the lives of over 450K ASD Spaniards.

Objective: Use an existing Samsung technology: Galaxy Buds2 Pro earphones. Through this wearable device we create an A.I. app that suppresses certain noises and improves the quality of life of people with ASD. With Unfear, we transform actual Samsung devices into an effective and free tool that gives a new audio experience and interaction with the world to the autistic community.

Spain is one of the most sociable countries in the world and also one of the noisiest, so it is natural that a tool that allows those affected to interact with the environment and people has been very well received. Unfear goes beyond noise cancellation, creating a great solution for a normally forgotten audience, the autistic community.

This new app, which provides greater emotional well-being and a better quality of life for people with ASD and acoustic sensitivity, was launched at the end of March 2023, in order to get some traction during World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. Launching it on this date helped us to highlight their needs in front of everyone.

To date, the results are positive. From +5,000 downloads with a user rating of 4.7/5, to testimonials from professionals in the medical sector and a scientific endorsement. In addition, more than 200 local and international media, both general and advertising industry, talked about Unfear, achieving 1M earned media.

This has helped to increase downloads and usage of the app, give visibility to the ASD community and reaffirm Samsung's commitment to help through technology. In addition, during the app's first months on the market, the brand donated 100 Galaxy Buds2 Pro to leading autism associations to promote its use and demonstrate its effectiveness.

Unfear continues the work done by Samsung in its Technology with Purpose (TCP) campaign. For more than a decade, the brand has worked on more than 30 projects investing more than 25 million euros to help and improve people's lives through technology and innovation.

There are 70M people on the autism spectrum in the world.

For them, everyday, regular sounds can provoke panic attacks.

Until now, noise cancellation was their only alternative but this also isolates them from the world around them.

Samsung presents Unfear.

A revolutionary artificial intelligence app that goes beyond noise cancellation to create a personalized and autonomous solution.

Unfear is an intelligent pre-emptive solution that identifies and suppresses the noises that generate panic attacks in people with autism and hearing disorders. By listening to the environment Unfear pinpoints all sounds before cross-referencing them in real-time with thousands of audio libraries all without the user having to do a thing.

For you, this is an example of what a downtown street sounds like:

SFX: Downtown street

AVO: And for an ASD sufferer, this is how that same street sounds with Unfear.

SFX: Lowered downtown street

AVO: When installing the app, Unfear’s algorithm prompts users to create a custom

selection of additional noises they may be sensitive to.

Unfear also works inside of users’ phones, automatically filtering the entertainment content, such as video games, music, Netflix, video streaming platforms and social media, opening up all kinds of entertainment that was until now, inaccessible to them.

This is what a game like Call of Duty sounds without Unfear.

SFX: explosions and guns.

And, with Unfear, this how the same game sounds for ASD sufferers.

SFX: explosions, guns (LOWERED)

In case of anxiety for a reason unrelated to sounds, Unfear can also help them out of that situation through a keyword voice recognition.

Relaxing binaural sounds are immediately activated bringing the sufferer back to a state of normality.

Unfear was developed over 9 months with 10 ASD organisations and over 100 ASD patients and doctors. The app has received 4.9 out of 5 rating and the scientific endorsement of Spain’s Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health

Samsung Unfear.

Freedom to listen, live

Please see the case video for a full demonstration.

Unfear is a free, intelligent preventive solution that identifies and suppresses the noises that generate panic attacks in people with ASD. By listening to the environment, Unfear identifies all sounds before cross-referencing them in real time with thousands of audio libraries, all without the user having to do anything.

The app is customizable, as anyone can pre-select the noises that affect them and the algorithm will automatically suppress them. Unfear becomes a sonic airbag that protects the user from noises from outside and inside the cell phone (digital audio content), allows total concentration by canceling noises and even detecting conversations. In the event of a crisis, it plays soothing binaural sounds activated by voice recognition or, in the latter case, directly contacts an emergency person for assistance and monitoring.

This gives people with ASD autonomy and freedom to move anywhere, something that conventional noise cancellation cannot achieve.