Creative data use sits at the core of this idea. Thanks to all the analyzed sounds the algorithm is capable of pinpointing only those that affect the user and act accordingly and at all times based on their needs.

Unfear is the first artificial intelligence application developed to help the autistic community and people with hearing disorders.

It offers the possibility of living a journey of freedom to face the world without fear or panic attacks due to noise. Going outside, playing video games or watching movies is now possible thanks to this software that works as a sound airbag.

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.

Data insights- To capture this data we used Firebased Analitics as well as the following technologies to program this app developed as a native Android application with Kotlin, using:

-Jetpack Compose library

-RoomDB (internal database)

-TensorFlow as AI technology for sound category recognition

-Hilt for dependency injection

Thanks to all this data we help prevent over a thousand panic attacks on our users.

Innovation- Using an existing Samsung technology and upgrading it with a software development to create a solution that suppresses specific noises and improves the quality of life for an often overlooked target, people with ASD.

Originality- Unfear is a 100% original app that solves a real problem for a group that has been usually felt forgotten. It works as a techno-creative tool to improve the quality of life and well-being of people with autism and/or acoustic sensitivity.

Data Gathering- Unfear works with Artificial Intelligence through Tensorflow, a crossover algorithm of audio libraries and machine learning educated with 2.1M audio files. The program analyzes the volume of external noises and activates protection at specific decibels, determined by the user starting at 55 dB.

Data interpretation- The app listens to every sound and compares it to those in the audio library to suppress or reduce the decibels to those that affect the user. The more the app is used by each user, the more it learns the better it determines the sounds.

Targeting- The app is made for more than 450k ASD people in Spain and their families in order for them to have a better life with no fear of regular noises and to be able to be in everyday environments at any time.

Audio Data journey: If the external mode is enabled, audio is captured through the chosen input source, either the headset or the phone's microphone. It's then transformed into an interpretable stream of data, allowing for volume analysis and feeding into the Tensor Flow instance to categorize the sound.

If the sound meets a specific criteria, such as exceeding a defined volume threshold or falling into a blacklisted category, the Galaxy Buds' noise cancellation is activated through our custom Bluetooth communicator.

If the audio environment undergoes significant changes (no more annoying sounds) for at least 10 seconds, the noise cancellation is automatically deactivated.

Equalization is accomplished using Android's Equalizer API. We provide several presets that users can choose from and enable/disable manually.

Voice detection tech is also used for the focus and calm modes to receive assistance by simply speaking aloud without having to unlock the device.

Unfear has +5,000 downloads with a user rating of 4.7/5.

And the Endrosement from medical professionals and the Spanish Society of Psychiatry & Mental Health

In addition, more than 200 local and international general and advertising industry media, talked about Unfear, achieving over 1M earned media.

The app is under continuous maintenance and improvements proposed by the user’s feedback in order to give the best and most accurate service possible.

The Samsung’s brand is very well perceived by the consumers gaining credit in the medical environment thanks to the Technology With a Purpose campaign going on for over a decade with more than 25M € invested in over 30 projects.