ANDREA ELECTRONICS INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY FAR-FIELD DSP MICROPHONE TECHNOLOGY  

Andrea Leads the Way to the Freedom of Voice

Long Island City, N.Y., June 16, 1998 — Andrea Electronics Corporation (AMEX: AND) today announced the introduction of its Digital Super Directional Array (DSDA (TM)) microphone technology which allows for the cancellation of background noise and the transmission of a clear voice signal even when the speaker is at a distance from the microphone. 

This technology will provide optimal microphone performance required for the growth in emerging applications in the areas of automobile PCs, desktop speech recognition, hand held devices, audio/video and "whiteboard" teleconferencing, office and home automation systems, car phones, camcorders and hearing aids.

DSDA technology incorporates an array of microphones to eliminate unwanted noise while providing a natural language, human/machine interface capable of producing a wide range of high performance audio and acoustic voice solutions. DSDA hands-free technology allows users to control their environment, eliminating extraneous noise while performing critical speech-centric computing, bringing the human/machine interface beyond the office, into our cars and our homes. 

"Today, more than ever, people are using speech recognition, network communications and other voice-enabled natural-language applications as a means to enhance the way we communicate," said Douglas J. Andrea, Co-president of Andrea Electronics Corporation. "Andrea's newest DSDA technology, a digital microphone array, has opened the door to emerging communication applications where it is desirable to have the speaker at a distance from the input source. DSDA's unique microphone technology has the ability to focus on a particular source and eliminate ambient noise, which causes distortion and interference in computing applications. Much like a camcorder can zoom in and out on an intended subject, DSDA's adaptive beamforming process will provide an ideal cone in which to digitally focus on the desired signal, the voice, and eliminate unwanted noise. This far-field microphone technology is unparalleled in its ability to enhance a voice signal and provide clear sound, which will be critical to applications like automobile PCs, hand-held devices, videoconferencing, smart homes, hearing aids and many others."  

How It Works

Andrea's patent pending DSDA technology uses an array of microphones, software algorithms and advanced digital signaling processing (DSP) to adaptively control acoustic signals and receive a precise, clear voice signal from a distance, in a noisy car or a crowded conference room.

Using a beamforming process, the microphones separate the voice frequency from the noise, locking on the voice signal. Even if the location of the voice moves within a space, it is tracked by a beam to create a continuous input for a clear voice signal. Reference channels search for interference or unwanted noise. The reference is inverted and subtracted from the noise signal, delivering a clear, enhanced audio signal.

Applications

DSDA microphone technology will be demonstrated in numerous voice applications which include: 

Automobile PCs
· DSDA’s ability to conquer the enemy of voice - extraneous noise - will allow automobile PCs to receive clear voice commands, even with windows open and radio playing.  

Speech Recognition
· Voice clarity for desktop speech recognition environments is significantly enhanced through the use of DSDA, Andrea's most advanced active noise cancellation microphone technology, allowing for clear speech in untethered, hands-free applications. 

Videoconferencing
· DSDA provides enhanced performance for videoconferencing and similar communications technologies. The clarity of high quality voice transmission provides a realistic option to better communicate by tracking the speaker while controlling the direction of a video camera. 

Home Automation Systems
· Dramatic improvements to the quality of our communications bundled with Andrea’s DSDA technology provides a hands free application with high clarity for use in a smart home. 

Andrea Electronics

Andrea Electronics Corporation designs, develops and manufactures audio technologies and equipment for applications incorporating speech-driven interfaces. The Company's patented Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) microphone and Active Noise Reduction (ANR) earphone technologies are used in the Company's lines of headsets, handsets and microphones, trademarked as VoiceSolutions (TM), QuietWare (TM) and Andrea Anti-Noise (TM) products, that eliminate background noise and ensure voice clarity to enhance the performance of speech-related computer applications. Applications for the Company's technologies include: speech recognition programs, Internet telephony, video/audio conferencing and multiplayer online gaming. Key OEM and software publisher customers and strategic partners who have endorsed Andrea Electronics' technologies and products include: Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products, Dragon Systems, NEC, Mpath, Multitude, IDT, HyperGraphics and ILINC. Andrea ANC technology is the only microphone technology certified by Windows Hardware Qualification Lab for use with Windows® 95 and NT. 

To receive Andrea Electronics' latest news release and other corporate documents via FAX - no cost - please dial 1-800-PRO-INFO. Use the Company's ticker: AND.  Or visit Andrea Electronics' website at www.andreaelectronics.com.  

The press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the heading "Certain Factors that May Affect Future Results" included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and results of operations in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company's Annual Report to stockholders, and in documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.