Assistive Tech or Spy Device? Let's Talk About Rodger

If you've ever seen me place a small device in the middle of the table, or set up a lanyard microphone, you may have wondered what on earth I’m doing.

No, I’m not recording you.
No, I’m not spying.
And no — it’s not some secret gadget.

These devices are part of the Phonak Roger System lineup, designed to support people with hearing loss.

More importantly — they help me hear.

What is Roger?

Roger is a remote microphone system which streams sound directly to my cochlear implants.

I wear the Advanced Bionics Marvel processors, and Roger can connect directly to them without any additional connectors.

Instead of sound travelling like this:

Speaker → Room air → Background noise → My implants → My brain

It travels like this:

Speaker → Microphone → My implants → My brain

That difference might look small on paper — but in real life, it’s huge.

It removes distance.
It reduces background noise.
And it makes speech much clearer and easier to follow.

Why That Matters

Even with cochlear implants, sound is good but isn’t effortless.

Things like:

  • Background noise
  • Multiple people talking
  • Distance from the speaker
  • Echo in a room

…all make listening harder.

Without support, conversations can turn into a blur of sound that I have to constantly try and piece together.

Roger cuts through that.

The Devices I Use

Roger Touchscreen (One-to-One & Classrooms)

Roger Touchscreen microphone worn on a lanyard for classroom and one-to-one listening
Roger Touchscreen microphone worn by the speaker in classrooms or one-to-one conversations

I use the Roger Touchscreen mostly:
  • In classrooms (with lecturers)
  • When I’m out with one other person

In these situations, the person speaking wears the microphone.

This means their voice is sent straight to my implants, instead of getting lost in the environment.

It massively reduces listening fatigue — especially in lessons where I’d otherwise be concentrating more on hearing than learning.

It also makes a huge difference when I’m out and about. The audible feedback from my cane can sometimes drown out people’s voices, and Roger helps bring that speech back into focus.

Roger Select (Group Situations)

Roger Select microphone placed on a table for group conversations in noisy environments
Roger Select microphone placed on a table to help focus on speech during group conversations


For group situations, I use the Roger Select.

This sits flat on a table, and I can adjust it based on the direction of the conversation, helping reduce background noise.

I use it:

  • During group work
  • In cafés and restaurants
  • At home (connected to a TV dock)

Group conversations are one of the hardest listening environments for me. Without support, voices overlap and blend together.

With Roger Select, I can actually follow what’s being said — and join in.

“So… You’re Not Spying?”

This is usually the part people are most curious about.

Roger does not record audio.
It doesn’t store conversations.
And it doesn’t send anything to anyone else.

It’s live audio only — streamed directly to me.

Think of it less like a recording device, and more like a personal sound system.

When I place it on a table, I’m not spying.

I’m just trying to hear you properly.

Closing

Using Roger isn’t about having an advantage.

It’s about access.

It allows me to:

  • Keep up in class
  • Take part in conversations
  • Reduce listening fatigue
  • Be present, instead of overwhelmed

It might look unusual from the outside — but for me, it’s just another everyday tool.


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