AES Europe 2026

This years famous Richard Heyser Momorial Lecture will be given by Professor Dorte Hammershøi from Aalborg University.

Throughout a distinguished academic career, the lecturer’s work in measuring outer ear transfer functions and headphone characteristics served not only to develop and refine methods for binaural recording and reproduction, but eventually provided a stepping stone into the field of technical audiology and hearing-aid rehabilitation. In 2026, an earphone is rarely just a sound reproduction device, and a hearing aid is rarely just a medical device. The talk will give highlights from 36 years of work in the field, and discuss what the presenter considers to be the contemporary challenges when earphones become hearing aids and vice versa. Finally, the presenter may address the challenges of creating audio-only virtual reality for blind gamers.