Phantom Terrains Software Helps Deaf People "Hear" WiFi By Making Signals Audible.

Frank Swain, a London-based freelance science writer, has developed this new software called Phantom Terrains that turns local WiFi signals to audible sounds. The writer who has been slowly progressing towards deafness since his 20s, has worked with sound artist Daniel Jones to develop this software which works well with smartphones and hearing aids. Phantom Terrains employs the smartphone's WiFi sensors to collect and analyze data from nearby fields. This data is then further decoded and converted to sound patterns that are wirelessly transmitted to Swain's customized hearing aids. Using his smartphone and this software together, Swain has a kind of aural map along with the hearing aid's normal output.


The software interprets distant signals as background clicks that vary with proximity. The signals in closer proximity sing their network ID information in a looped melody. Swain stated that all he's doing is listening to a computer's interpretation of the soundscape. He's looking forward to further customize the software by adding elements that could bring about a more interpretative version of the world.