Future AirPods models could offer a range of smart features that would blur the line between in-ear headphones and hearing aids, suggests a new thought piece today.
AirPods Pro models already offer a ‘layered’ sound experience, but future models could offer far more sophisticated sound processing…
MacWorld’s Jason Snell makes the case. He starts by looking at the three modes currently offered by AirPods Pro: normal, noise-canceling, and ‘transparency.’
The technology, he notes, already exists – in audio-processing software used for things like cleaning up podcast recordings. That’s not yet real-time, but it’s already close.
Now, imagine a future version of AirPods Pro, with a little more processing power. In addition to Transparency mode, perhaps there’s a Smart Transparency mode that takes a cue from all the audio processing software out there to do things like remove unchanging background noise and even remove room echo so that what you hear is clearer than it might be if you heard it unfiltered.
So Apple could effectively blur the line between in-ear headphones and hearing aids.
As someone who suffers from tinnitus as a result of too many years riding motorcycles at track speed with mostly rather basic earplugs, I’d buy that model in a heartbeat.
What’s your view? Would you welcome future AirPods models with smart features like prioritizing nearby voices in noisy bars and enhancing PA announcements while filtering out other external sounds? Please take our poll and share your thoughts and ideas in the comments.
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