In-house audio lab for Apple's AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid function
Apple has already turned available earbuds into hearing aids with a firmware update.
Visit to Apple's audio lab: "Thousands of tests" carried out.
(Image: Screenshot ABC / YouTube)
In connection with the new hearing test and hearing aid function, Apple has also set up its own research laboratory. The "Apple Audio Lab" consists of several chambers that are able to present various acoustic scenarios as well as being completely sound-free. The iPhone company showed this to US broadcaster ABC on its morning show.
Simulation of soundscapes
The facility is well hidden in an office park in Cupertino – outside Apple's headquarters – and is said to have been in existence for years. Apple's basic idea behind the feature was that there are many people who suffer from hearing loss but do nothing about it. According to Head of Hardware John Ternus, the AirPods Pro 2 with the appropriate firmware update are a "super easy, simple solution". Many of the employees involved were personally very committed.
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In the "Fantasia" sub-lab, speakers are set up that can recreate "hundreds of scenarios" – from a restaurant to understand conversations to a loud concert. According to Apple, the hearing aid and hearing protection functions have been validated here. Hundreds of test subjects have been put through dozens of tests. The soundproof chamber (Longwave Chamber) has its own foundation to prevent vibrations from penetrating. It is "one of the quietest places on the planet".
Hearing test "major breakthrough"
Apple emphasizes the importance of a third feature: the automatic hearing test. This determines which frequencies the AirPods Pro need to raise and how severe the hearing loss already is. Apple's Head of Medicine, Sumbul Desai, calls the system a "major breakthrough", saying that such a test had previously only been available in a clinic. According to Desai, 75 percent of all people with hearing loss in the USA do not receive the help they need.
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The test conducted by colleagues from c't magazine showed that the function works quite adequately. As the author's mother-in-law, who is hard of hearing, reported, the Airpods definitely help her in some unfavorable conversation situations. They were also suitable for improving playback on the iPhone or iPad or when watching television with Apple TV. The Airpods Pro 2 are a good stopgap measure to supplement or help with incipient hearing loss, as permanent hearing aids are significantly more expensive.
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(bsc)
