Things that can be heard and discussed are increasingly important. Thanks to medical advances, the hearing aid business has thrived. The number of people using earbuds and similar in-ear devices has exploded in recent years. Some of the most cutting-edge hearables from studios and factories all over the world were on display at CES 2020. Before Apple released their high-tech AirPods, there was a popular pair of wireless headphones called Bragi.
Interested in hearing aids, yet concerned about where the industry stands now and where it may go in the future? Get here, and I’ll explain it all to you.
What does “Hearable” mean?
What is the first thing that springs to mind when you hear the phrase “hearing technology?” In spite of the name, this isn’t just about headphones or hearing aids. According to Scotland’s NHS, “Hearables are the devices that are primarily intended to allow streaming of media to the device, but that also offer a hearing enhancing function not dissimilar to a hearing aid.”
A hearable is a wireless earpiece designed to improve one’s listening experience through the use of wireless technology. As more and more manufacturers release products that combine hearing aids with media capabilities, we can no longer claim to be in the early adoption stages. The popularity of smart ear-wear, often known as hearables, has skyrocketed in recent years.
In addition to its intended use as listening enhancement devices, hearables have the potential to revolutionize the fields of medicine and physical fitness in countless ways. Modern hearables can detect your heart rate, count your calories burned, analyze your brain waves, and so much more. Additionally, the development of voice-activated digital assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant is unquestionably helping to the rise in popularity of hearables.
Hearables can be broken down into three categories: hearing aids, which use a microphone, speaker, and amplifier to amplify sounds and help those with hearing impairment; sound amplifiers, which boost ambient sounds; and wireless earphones/headphones, which stream music from a variety of devices.
Hearables with Biometric Sensors
Smart hearables are quickly rising in popularity as a result of their convenience and improved user experiences. The incorporation of cutting-edge technology like biometric sensors, AI, IoT, etc., is an evolutionary step that is altering the current state of affairs.Companies are attempting to make hearables intelligent, which will provide a level of convenience, comfort, and user experience that has not been seen before. This has broadened the possibilities and applications of hearables beyond those of traditional health and fitness trackers and hearing aids. Hearing aids equipped with biosensors allow wearers to track vitals like heart rate and blood oxygen saturation as well as data like body temperature, sweat rate, skin resistance, stress hormone levels, and more.
The research “Hearables 2020-2030: Technology, Players and Forecasts biosensor” predicts that in the next few years, hearables will have a major impact on the consumer, OTC health, and professional medical industries.
Hearable Tech of the Future
Does the integration of biosensors into wearables hint at future innovation? Definitely, in the not-too-distant future, these ear-worn devices may come equipped with other technologies like machine learning/AI and cloud computing, etc., to aid in monitoring the wearer’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Combining these methods with current wearable technology may assist determine whether the wearer is experiencing stress and, if so, how to alleviate that tension by playing a soothing song. Emotions, speech volume, tone, and other linguistic cues might all be monitored.
Furthermore, researchers at Cornell University are investigating the feasibility of using these wearable gadgets to track and translate the wearer’s facial expressions.All of this may sound far-fetched and fantastical, but incredible progress is being made in fields all around the world right now, and there’s a chance that we’ll get to see some of it in action in the not-too-distant future.
Hearables Market Trend
While fitness monitoring apps first drove the wearables business, wrist-worn gadgets and others like in-ear devices (hearables) are now where the action is.Why do you think the use of hearing aids is on the rise? The development of DSP technology, smaller batteries, the expansion of Bluetooth’s range, etc., are all to thank. The shift in consumer taste and need for an improved audio experience has also contributed greatly to the expansion of the hearable market.
Major factors driving the expansion of the hearables market include the rising use of wireless headphones and infotainment gadgets, the growing popularity of miniature wearable electronic devices for health monitoring, and the advent of new technologies.
Incredible technological advancements have taken place in the 21st century, and so has the manner that hearing aids are advertised and sold. Hearables weren’t immune to the worldwide production halt caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, which has had a profound impact on the global economy. Even if there was a temporary drop in demand for hearables as a result of the quarantine, the market for these devices is booming.By 2025’s close, it’s expected that more than 2.6 billion people will have used some kind of in-ear technology.
Who all are the major players in the Heaarable Market?
Many different brands compete to offer their customers the greatest possible hearing experience, including Apple, Xiaomi, Samsung Electronics, Bose Corporation, Phonak, Oticon, LG Electronics, Sony Corporation, Jabra (GN Store Nord A/S), and others.
Smart Hearable Devices Launched Recently
1. MaskFone
Binatone, a smart technology company, has created one of the most intriguing hearables on the market with their new mask and earphones combination that is powered by Google’s voice assistant. In order to combat the rapid spread of COVID-19, researchers have devised a gadget that combines wireless earphones with a Nokia N95. The Bluetooth earbuds can be used with the Hubble Connect app for around 12 hours total. The fact that it comes with a built-in microphone and a washable mask makes it much more appealing.
2. Apple Airpods Pro
Apple released its upgraded AirPods Pro in 2019 with noise cancellation and other improvements for a more satisfying listening experience. The Apple Airpods have extra capabilities including voice-activated Siri, audio sharing, and an eartip fit test.
3. Xiaomi Mi AirDots 2 SE
Xiaomi introduced their Mi AirDots 2 SE smart earbuds with voice control and touch buttons for volume and song navigation last year.
What does the future hold for Hearable Technology?
To enhance the listening experience, engineers are working on hearables equipped with biometric, proximity, movement, and other sensors. The Internet of Things (IoT) also contributes significantly to the unbelievable innovation of hearable devices. Modern hearables have more capabilities than just sound amplification. Increasingly sophisticated computations may be handled locally on endpoint devices like smart earbuds thanks to the powerful processors in the latest smart gadgets, which eliminates the need to send processes to the cloud.
Using a cellular network, Bluetooth Wi-Fi, digital enhanced cordless telephony (DECT), and other similar wireless connectivity technologies, smart wireless earbuds are utilized for short- and long-range inter-team communication. The incorporation of sensors, Bluetooth, and Active-Noise Cancellation (ANC) are just a few examples of the new technologies that are enabling previously unimaginable possibilities. There is no end to the innovations taking place in the hearables industry, from photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors that can determine the user’s blood pressure through the connected hearing device to hearables with noise cancellation capability thanks to the addition of low-power chipsets.
Our thoughts can run wild with the infinite possibilities presented by the current state of technology. Developers and engineers are always thinking up new ways to propel us into the next generation of wearables. In the future, how you connect your headphones or earbuds to your device could potentially alter. Simply said, hearables give a once-in-a-generation chance for creativity.