Detail of an Apple Airpod wireless headset, taken on January 23, 2017. (Photo by Neil Godwin / T3 … [+]
Apple is not going to let Google escape with the production of the only smart one headphones on the market
In the past few months some information has emerged suggesting that the maker of AirPods is gradually adding, or at least looking at, improved functionality to its extremely popular headphones.
The most recent is a patent, discovered by Patently apple – detailing a future pair of AirPods that have new health-focused features. The patent describes a feature that uses built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes (currently in AirPods Pro) to obtain orientation information and measure user movements.
By specifically mentioning the proper way to exercise, the patent explains that the new AirPods can be part of a system that trains users and provides feedback based on “performing a head shake routine or other exercise routine.” . The idea that AirPods can know if you are doing an exercise incorrectly.
Referring to the shape before, during, and after a workout, the patent goes on to say that “these stretching positions, which can sometimes be called user head poses, user head tilts, neck stretches, poses, etc. can be used to help stretch and relax muscles in the user’s upper body. “
This clearly sounds like a reference to Yoga and, if it turns out to be true, it would be a good use of AirPods gyros. The idea seems to be to offer performance-related training based on your shape and movement, rather than the one-way training you get from watching an instructional video.
If necessary (granted patents do not always come true), this could be an unintentionally timely product. The shutdown means more people are randomly learning to exercise from home. Any kind of feedback, or correction in the proper way, would be welcome for the many who struggle through new exercises that they are trying out in their living room while watching YouTube.
This is not the only clue we have had that Apple is heading in a new direction with the AirPods. Back in may DigiTimes He reported that Apple plans to include ambient light sensors in its next headphones. The report speculated that the new biometric technology could be used to measure health data by monitoring step counts, heart rate, and monitoring other health conditions.
Light sensor technology could be conceptually similar to the way the Apple Watch measures heart rate, which houses an optical heart sensor and uses a technique called photoplethysmography to collect information. As Apple explains, “Blood is red because it reflects red light and absorbs green light. Apple Watch uses green LED lights combined with light-sensitive photodiodes to detect the amount of blood flowing through the wrist at any time. “
How, exactly, all of this will stack up on future AirPods without making them too bulky is a question that has yet to be answered. But regardless of how Apple approaches the design, it’s clear that these additions suggest AirPods are heading in a new direction, far from just being audio conduits.
Competition from rivals to upgrade their headphones is also heating up quickly. Google has committed to regular feature removal (feature-based updates that occur multiple times a year) for its Pixel Buds, which will likely force smarter functionality on them using its AI Assistant technology. OnePlus has hinted that its new friends will have additional smart functionality, such as a low-latency mode when used for gaming, while Microsoft’s Surface Earbuds can live PowerPoint narrative slides.
For the humble earphones, it is no longer enough to play music, they are becoming, and perhaps have to become, a little less intelligent extensions of their smartphone.
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