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Apple AirPods could soon become even more useful when it comes to staying healthy. The popular earbuds may be equipped with hearing health features in the next few years.
AirPods and AirPods Pro are great accessories that could be equipped with health features in the future, as they are often worn for extended periods. It is speculated that the earbuds could offer enhanced hearing health features in a few years. In his "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg believes Mark Gurman predicts that Apple will upgrade the AirPods "to a health tool in the next year or two." This upgrade could include the ability to "obtain some kind of hearing data" with the accessory. According to Gurman, the "health tool" elements would be a natural extension of what the Apple Watch offers its users. But the hearing potential could be much greater than what is currently offered.
Patents reveal Apple's world of ideas
Registered patents and patent applications suggest that Apple will integrate biometric sensors into the AirPods that use the ear and a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor to monitor heart rate and determine blood flow in the skin of the ear. Patent applications from 2017 also refer to an electrocardiogram sensor, impedance cardiography, galvanic skin response, VO2 measurement, and thermometer in the device. Some patents from 2014 suggest that Apple has considered monitoring a headphone user's heart rate, temperature, and perspiration. Other applications from 2018 suggest that Apple wants to improve the attachment of the AirPods so that the sensors come into better contact with the skin.
AirPods already have useful features
In terms of hearing health, Apple already offers some features like Live Listen, which enhances the user's hearing by capturing audio from an iPhone. Conversation Boost in the AirPods Pro is an assistive technology that makes it easier to understand nearby conversations. Currently, none of these features are FDA-approved and cannot replace a hearing aid, but some have already said that the AirPods can be a good first step toward accepting the need for a hearing aid. However, Apple is believed to be working on making these and similar benefits more "official" in the future. (Photo by Razgulyaeff / Bigstockphoto)
