It seems that the latest in phone technology means something smaller, lighter, and more mobile than ever. The Clarity Ensemble is none of the above, but its potential to help millions of people with hearing loss makes it one of the most useful phone gadgets in recent memory.

The Ensemble is an innovative phone that creates real time text captioning of phone calls and amplified audio. The amplified handset creates up to 50 decibels of clear sound, the same power found in state-of-the-art hearing devices. The phone system is also hearing aid compatible.

But it's the ClearCaptions service that is really impressive. A transcript of your phone conversation appears on a large 7-inch color screen as it takes place. The fonts are easy to read and can made bigger or smaller with the swipe of a finger. There's no second guessing what is being said, and you can even save conversations for later reference.

ClearCaptions works on a high speed internet connection and is available to residents of the United States only.

The Ensemble sells for $149 at ClarityProducts.com and comes with a 1-year warranty.