As the release of the iPhone 14 series draws closer, Apple is once again stirring up interest in the market. The company's upcoming wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro 2, which are anticipated to be released later this year, have recently been the subject of a lot of rumours in the tech community. Among the loyal customers of the company, excitement is high, and the most recent story has only added gasoline to the fire.
With new AirPods, Apple may add health-related capabilities like heart rate tracking. The business also expects that AirPods would assist customers prevent accidents on the road or at noisy construction sites, according to Apple's most recent patent (via Slashgear).
In a series of patents filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Apple refers to a Contextual audio system that automatically adjusts the level to guarantee users can hear important sounds around them, such as emergency sirens and car horns (USPTO).
With the help of GPS information and other sensor data collected by the user's smartphone or Apple Watch, the background sound system, in particular, can assess the user's travel direction and speed and adjust the volume of the appropriate left or right headphone. For instance, GPS data indicates that the user is close to a major intersection, but since the user is sporting AirPods in both ears, they might not be able to hear the oncoming vehicles as they cross the street. In this scenario, the AirPods will reduce the volume or possibly pause the music to warn the user of the approaching traffic. The AirPods only reduce the volume of the headphones when the user is crossing a street while strolling beside it, according to the data.
AirPods and other devices can simultaneously play alarm sounds stored on the iPhone or Apple Watch to alert users when specific data is detected. The patent claims that in locations where users must focus, such as risky environments, work sites, and educational facilities, the sound of AirPods can be reduced or even suspended.
In addition, the system may play alarm audio stored on the iPhone or Apple Watch to alert users when AirPods and other devices detect specific data. In areas where users must concentrate, such as risky environments, work sites, and educational facilities, the patent claims that the sound of AirPods can be reduced or even suspended.
The patent also mentions a particular sensor that will cooperate with other sensors on an iPhone or Apple Watch to track the user's torso posture and conduct the necessary action. It is important to note that the patent refers to a wearable audio device rather than directly saying it is for AirPods.
Additionally, Apple has applied for a patent for "Wireless Ear Bud System With Pose Recognition," which suggests that the company is thinking of designing an AirPods body posture recognition system that will continuously track the user's head tilt angle and limb extension.
