Apple will position AirPods as a health tool product in the next two years
Bloomberg News reporter Mark Gurman recently claimed in his “Power On” column that Apple will position AirPods as a health tool product in the next two years, in order to obtain more user health data.
According to Mark Gurman, health tools will be positioned as an extension of Apple Watch products, in order to obtain more bodily data such as hearing.
Prior to this, in 2014, Apple obtained a patent for technology that uses earphones to obtain user heart rate, body temperature, and perspiration status. Furthermore, Apple has proposed the use of photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to measure user heart rate during wearing, record blood flow under the skin of the ear, and better understand changes in user bodily conditions.
Currently, users can use “Live Listen” to use their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as a microphone, sending sound to AirPods. This allows for conversations to be heard in noisy areas and even for the contents of a conversation on the other side of a room to be heard. In addition, the “Conversation Boost” feature makes it easier for users with mild hearing loss to hear others’ voices through AirPods.
Apple may increase the functionality of AirPods to obtain more user health data and increase incentives to purchase the product.
