About Us

Clarity's office headquarters in Chattanooga, TN

It all began in 1969 with an engineer in North Georgia named Wesley Walker.

HISTORY

Black and white picture from 1975 of two engineers in the beginning years before Clarity

Wesley had redesigned a telephone-switching card for BellSouth. He used his telephony expertise to establish his own company — Walker Equipment — what is now known as Clarity.

In 1975, Wesley’s team began manufacturing handsets for public telephones. Two years later, in 1977, the company had a breakthrough with the patent of its Diode Bridge — a technology necessary for amplified handsets. Building on its success, the company developed the world’s smallest and lightest test set in 1984.

In 1986, Plantronics acquired Walker Equipment and opened international doors for the company. In 1989, the company introduced a patented amplification technology called Clarity Power.™ By 1997, its telephones were being sold nationwide and across Europe, through distribution partners and government programs in 26 states.

Behind the strength of its Clarity Power™ products, the company changed its name to Clarity. And over the last four decades, Clarity has grown to become the U.S. leader in amplified telephony. Along the way, the company has set a series of industry precedents including: first phone with digital sound processing in 2005; first cellphone for seniors in 2008; and first remote access technology for telephones in 2010. Clarity evolved its product line to help consumers with other needs they face as they age — not just hearing loss, but low vision, mobility, dexterity and other issues.  Today, millions rely on Clarity to communicate at home, at work and throughout their lives.

Colorful image describing the history of Clarity from 1970 to 2017

THE CLARITY CUSTOMER

America is graying. Fast. The first wave of America’s most influential demographic —the Baby Boomers — turned 65 in 2011. And by 2030, 70.3 million Americans will be 65 or older.

A white elderly couple with their dog looking happy

They are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbors. They are businesspeople, heads of households, retirees. They are often the center of their communities and families.

While other technology companies have focused on the younger, hipper demographics, Clarity has not wavered from its mission of helping the older generations. For the past four decades, Clarity has built an innate understanding of the aging population — both their physical and emotional concerns — through experience and research. The company understands that age brings new challenges, such as hearing, vision, mobility, dexterity and safety, that are simply not being addressed in today’s market.

That’s why Clarity’s products are not only useful for the nearly 30 million with hearing loss, but address myriad age-related health concerns. For instance, Clarity’s big button phones are a ray of light to the 3.3 million Americans with low vision. Clarity’s ergonomic designs have been commended by the Arthritis Foundation and provide relief to the 46 million in the U.S. with arthritis. And Clarity’s picture phones can be of great assistance to the 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s.

Clarity also understands that not everyone with gray hair has the same needs. Boomers are not only looking to maintain the quality of life they’ve come to know, many also have the responsibility of caring for their senior parent and children simultaneously. Meanwhile, seniors seek simplicity and safety as they try to remain independent in their latter years. Clarity caters to both by designing products to meet these unique needs.

The people we serve at Clarity are so much more than customers. They are this nation’s backbone. Our parents and grandparents. People who may have been left behind by the mainstream consumer market, but not forgotten by Clarity.