Door Knock Detectors for People with Hearing Loss

Door knock detectors offer an alternative to doorbells because not everyone lives in a home. You may live in a low-rise condo or apartment, a hotel, or a motel. You may be in a workplace where the open concept isn’t a thing. Having a doorbell installed in these places is uncommon. Doorbells may not be allowed by people managing the properties for many reasons. One may be to maintain standards or protocols in the common area.

Putting a note on the door with your phone number to inform people at the door that you may not hear is inviting unwanted attention. Coordinating with someone to text you isn’t exactly an option when you don’t have a specific point of contact. Yet, someone might need to connect with you, and without a doorbell, it is common for people to knock on the door.

The market for door knock detection is limited. There are far and few devices that can support door knock detection. In this article, we’ll talk about the options and ways to address this.

Door knock detector using sound detection

Intelligence machines using artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to identify environmental sounds. These devices use a microphone to listen and process the sound into a computer that has learned to recognize specific sounds. In the case of door knocks, sounds that mimic a door knock are trained by the algorithm to detect the sound again in real-time.

Some door knock detectors do not use AI but use noises to detect vibration. Sound is essentially vibration, and the vibration produces the sounds and voices that get processed in our ears. In the same effect, you can have door knock detectors that pick up vibration from the sound. However, the challenge here is that it allows for several false alarms.

Detector using a movement sensor

Electronic pieces can sense vibration by touch or some slight door movement. This can be a useful solution to detect doors and other movements on objects.

Sensitivity levels

False alarms are to be expected with devices with door knock detection. Sometimes many sounds are similar to a door knock depending on our environment’s situation and context. You’ll be alert to detection that may not be correct. It’s not only for sound motion sensors that can also pick up vibration from other building parts that vibrate the door.

Getting a door knock detector for you

At Lisnen, we’re building a door knock detector, and we would like your input on our product design. Sign up to learn more about our door-knock detectors.