Future AirPods Could Monitor Body Temperature and Posture, and Work as a Hearing Aid

[MacRumors]

Apple is developing AirPods with health features, including body temperature and posture monitoring, and the ability to work as a hearing aid, according to The Wall Street Journal.

According to documents seen by The Wall Street Journal, prototypes of AirPods with temperature sensors for monitoring a wearer's core body temperature from inside the ear are being developed. The report noted that these in-ear temperature sensors could work in tandem with a temperature sensor in the Apple Watch Series 8.

The health-focused AirPods reportedly also use motion sensors to monitor a wearer's posture and alert them when they are slouching in an effort to improve posture.

Apple released its "Conversation Boost" feature for AirPods Pro last week, which boosts the volume and clarity of people directly in front of the wearer. It is not clear if the new hearing aid functions being explored by Apple are an extension of Conversation Boost or a wholly different hearing aid-specific feature. AirPods already feature, microphones, an amplifier, and a processor, providing the bedrock for hearing aid functionality.

AirPods may not be suitable as hearing aids for some sufferers of hearing loss since they do not have an all-day battery life, but the report noted that an expansion of FDA regulations for a new class of hearing aids, targeting mild to moderate hearing moss, that is expected next year could pave the way for Apple to explicitly market AirPods as hearing aids.

AirPods have been rumored to feature health-monitoring functions for some time, even with Apple executives hinting at the possibility. While previous reports have only speculated on the health features that could theoretically come to AirPods, The Wall Street Journal's report is the first clarification of the specific features Apple is reportedly exploring.

Individuals said to be familiar with Apple's plans told the The Wall Street Journal that the AirPods with health features are not expected to launch in 2022, and may never be released.

Article Link: Future AirPods Could Monitor Body Temperature and Posture, and Work as a Hearing Aid

 

[ProfessionalFan]

My posture sucks, so is it going to buzz in my ear constantly or something?

Maybe a Tim Cook VoiceOver saying "You're sitting wrong"?

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Vintage Apple…just when the whole world is speculating and guessing how Apple is going to get Apple Watch to take your temperature they go and throw it in the Airpods…classic amazing Apple

 

[adammusic]

In like 45 years from now.
Tired of super behind Apple products.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

In like 45 years from now.
Tired of super behind Apple products.

Apple prefers to do stuff best, rather than first.

I like that.

 

[Neil Harrison]

Yes but please no horrible ear tips !!

 

[macar00n]

Individuals said to be familiar with Apple's plans too the The Wall Street Journal that the AirPods with health features are not expected to launch in 2022, and may never be released.

This is pretty funny

 

[GadgetBen]

According to GadgetBen first actually, if you read back through my posts over the last two months!!

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

My posture sucks, so is it going to buzz in my ear constantly or something?

Maybe a Tim Cook VoiceOver saying "You're sitting wrong

 

[FloridaScrubJay]

‘…targeting mild to moderate hearing moss,…”

Well, if there moss in the ears, hearing is going to suffer. Doubt AirPods will help much with that. 🙄

 

[adammusic]

Apple prefers to do stuff best, rather than first.

I like that.

This is rarely the case.
Time is ticking.

 

[nt5672]

I am tired of all of the sensors in Apple devices. I am not an android. I know when my posture sucks. I know when my temperature is high.

Someone reminded me recently that getting medical tests when you're not sick is the definition of a hypochondriac. Needing to measure your body temperature when you're not sick makes one a hypochondriac.

Apple's new theme, "You don't have to decide to be a hypochondriac, Apple can make you one immediately with the new Apple ear buds. Get them now!"

 

[BeefCake 15]

My posture sucks, so is it going to buzz in my ear constantly or something?

Maybe a Tim Cook VoiceOver saying "You're sitting wrong"?

It'll be an ASMR tone of Tim saying it.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

It'll be an ASMR tone of Tim saying it.

Now I kinda want it

 

[no_idea]

It would be great if one day AirPods had built-in ram to store songs to where you didn’t need an iPhone or watch if you wanted to just go run and listen to music

 

[CarpalMac]

Apple prefers to do stuff best, rather than first.

I like that.

I am on to my fourth Airpod Pro replacement. How's their software releases going to?

The "It just works" and "Best rather than first" mantra is as played out as the doomed comments.

 

[calzon65]

Wow, now that is some impressive innovation ... keep it up Apple ... but do I want my iPod telling me to sit up straight ... reminds me of my mom growing up🤣

 

[Mr. Awesome]

I am tired of all of the sensors in Apple devices. I am not an android. I know when my posture sucks. I know when my temperature is high.

Someone reminded me recently that getting medical tests when you're not sick is the definition of a hypochondriac. Needing to measure your body temperature when you're not sick makes one a hypochondriac.

Apple's new theme, "You don't have to decide to be a hypochondriac, Apple can make you one immediately with the new Apple ear buds. Get them now!"

Gotcha! So we should remove things like irregular heart rate notifications! After all, you don’t know that you have atrial fibrillation, so why monitor for it?

 

[alexandr]

i think using an airpod as a rectal thermometer is a fantastic idea!

 

[johnmarki]

 

[repoman016]

Apple prefers to do stuff best, rather than first.

I like that.

I think the airpod pro's are worse than the originals but hey thats just my opinion

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I think the airpod pro's are worse than the originals but hey thats just my opinion

That's an apples to oranges argument anyway. We were discussing Apple vs other companies, not Apple vs themselves.

 

[covidthrowaway]

i think using an airpod as a rectal thermometer is a fantastic idea!

You're not using your AirPods correctly! Please don't put the airpods back in your ear....

 

[covidthrowaway]

I think the airpod pro's are worse than the originals but hey thats just my opinion

and your opinion means the world to us.

 

[garthb]

I would love to see Apple upend the hearing aid industry. Sure, there's a long way to go before these replace my hearing aids, where the batteries last almost a week. If they could come up with something that doesn't cost thousands apiece but work equally as well (or better, as Apple usually does), more people with mild to moderate hearing loss would jump at the opportunity to try them out. I know several people who are starting to need hearing aids, but simply have a hard time stomaching the costs associated with them, so they suffer.