Celebrated every February, National Inventor’s Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the inventors of the past, the creators of the present, and the visionaries of the future. With our own legacy across the audio and automotive industries steeped in innovation, we at HARMAN are proud to celebrate our own inventors, designers, engineers and creators who are dedicated to developing the best-in-class technologies that make our lives more productive, easier and entertaining.
HARMAN’s legacy of innovation spans decades and led to the creation of several historical inventions:
- The first dynamic cardioid microphone and the first FM tuner in 1953
- The world’s first stereo receiver in 1958
- The first THX licensed theater audio system in 1983
- The first OEM branded car audio system in 1984
- The first iPod audio docks and enabling the first Bluetooth wireless connectivity in a car in 2004
Our audio products and solutions are also known for powering some of music history’s biggest events and accomplishments, including 1969’s Woodstock Music Festival.
It’s a history that’s also award-winning: since 1937, HARMAN engineers have received two Academy Awards, three GRAMMY® awards, and hundreds of industry distinctions for product design and quality, automotive innovation, advancements in IoT and connected solutions, and more.
Last year, our automotive teams received several prestigious honors including the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles North America Innovation Supplier of the Year in recognition of our commitment to providing innovative and high-quality products and services and the highest ratings in the JD Power 2020 Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study. Our audio teams also started off strong in 2021, receiving a record-breaking 20 CES® 2021 Innovation Awards for products from HARMAN’s JBL, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, and Infinity brands in consumer, car, and luxury audio.
Our brilliant and accomplished inventors are behind many of our 6,500 patents that are instrumental to the development of our latest audio, automotive, and digital transformation solutions, including:
- Transforming the Car into a Third Living Space
Announced last month at HARMAN EXPLORE, our developers and engineers took a consumer-centric approach to solve for unmet needs and customer pain points, resulting in three new HARMAN experience concepts – otherwise known as EXPs – that will take the in-car experience to new heights. With Gaming Intense Max, the car is transformed into a multiplayer arena for a fast, immersive gaming experience. HARMAN’s Creator Studio leverages a wide array of technologies and services to turn the car into a productive space where influencers and creatives can easily create new content. And, our Drive-Live Concert solution promises to keep fans connected to their favorite artists by delivering the energy and sound of a live performance directly into the car - “Cutting the Cord” with JBL
Also announced at HARMAN EXPLORE, JBL expanded its fan-favorite LIVE series of headphones and earbuds with the unveiling of four new true-wireless models. The new lineup, featuring the JBL LIVE PRO+, JBL LIVE FREE NC+, JBL LIVE 660NC, and JBL LIVE 460NC, gives wearers the freedom and convenience they crave without skimping on powerful sound. Each model is packed with JBL Signature Sounds and noise cancelling capabilities with Smart Ambient, and hands free control with virtual smart assistants – it comes as no surprise that these models were named a “Best of Innovation Honoree” for the prestigious CES® 2021 Innovation Awards! - Enhancing Connected Experiences
Our Digital Transformation Solutions (DTS) team builds the software that helps deliver a holistic experience to customers through the convergence of IoT, AI, and cloud technologies. With HARMAN eNOVA, our AI-powered voice assistant platform, we’re helping make the user experience more connected, convenient, contextual, and personalized. Featuring state-of-the-art Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) capabilities, eNOVA enables users to build, test, and launch voice-enable solutions to create conversation and experiences with enhanced speed and security. In 2020, our DTS team also launched an industry-first enterprise platform that helps companies navigate the risks of COVID-19 and ensure workplace safety for employees and visitors. Known as AccuAlertMe, the platform relies on intelligent and context aware Bluetooth scanning to provide options for automated contact tracing and real-time updates on possible risk scenarios
After more than 70 years, HARMAN remains at the forefront of innovation. On National Inventor’s Day – and every day – we honor the achievements and brilliance of the inventors everywhere, including those at HARMAN, who are playing an instrumental role in making our connected vision a reality and enriching the consumer’s increasingly digital lifestyle.