The Apple AirPods 3 could come with the ability to reduce or decrease audio volume when a danger is detected nearby, allowing the wearer to hear danger without removing their earbuds.
That is according to a new patent granted to Apple that describes a feature for changing the audio output of the headphones depending on where the user is and what they are doing. The idea is that by reducing the intelligent audio levels, the AirPods 3 as future Apple headphone carriers can keep carriers safe when exposed to busy roads or other hazards.
By using a mix of positional data collected by the earbuds and GPS information taken from a connected iPhone or Apple Watch, future AirPods could be set up to provide “feedback, directions, encouragement, advice, safety information, instructions, and such. ”
A patent called “Contextual Audio System”, the patent also describes how such an automatic audio adjustment function for cyclists would work, track how fast they go and adjust the audio output accordingly. If they reach a certain speed where situational awareness is the key, the earbuds would be able to adjust what audio is playing automatically.
While safety advice seems to be the crux of this patent, it could also bring coaching and feedback on wearables by using sensor information to track how a user is doing it while practicing; for example how well they hold a yoga pose or how hard they run. A running coach feature can be found in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, so it would not be surprising to see Apple take that idea and run with it in their contextual audio system.
There have been many patents from Apple that place potential features for the AirPods 3, which we expect to see later this year than in 2021. But much of the tech placed in patents never makes it over the real world. Apple’s next hardware event will likely take place in September with a focus on the iPhone 12, so we could see the company’s new surfaces sooner rather than later.
