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Hearing

Facebook’s Prototype Smart Glasses Could Redefine Human Hearing

Facebook’s researchers are working on a new technology developed by Facebook Reality Labs (FRL), the research unit creating ever-more sophisticated AR and VR headsets.

The new smart glasses would let you “zoom in” on and enhance the sounds you care about in a real-life situation, while dimming loud background noises that might come in the way of a clear conversation.

The research team, led by Ravish Mehra, calls this “perceptual superpowers”. The technology, for now, only exists as a prototype in-ear monitor, which is paired with an off-the-shelf eye-movement tracking device that picks up what the user takes interest in, before turning up the volume on whatever grabs their attention. read more

Study Shows White Noise Can Improve Hearing

Cochlear implants could be stimulated with an effect similar to white noise in order to improve hearing of their users, according to a new study.

With a background of continuous white noise, hearing pure sounds becomes even more precise, researchers have shown. Their findings could be applied to the further development of cochlear implants according to a study were published in the journal Cell Reports.

The more precisely we can distinguish sound patterns, the better our hearing is. But how does brain manage to distinguish between relevant and less relevant information — especially in an environment with background noise? read more

Apple TV+ Will Be Optimized for the Blind, Partially Sighted, Deaf, and Hard-of-Hearing on November 1

Apple TV+ will make it easier for those who are visually and hearing impaired to enjoy their original content in more than 100 countries and regions starting November 1.

Now that we have more information about the launch of Apple TV+, we know more about the plan for making the content accessible for the blind, partially sighted, deaf, and hard-of-hearing.

In their press release, Apple said this:

Audiences worldwide can enjoy Apple TV+ originals subtitled and/or dubbed in nearly 40 languages, including Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (SDH) or closed captions. Apple TV+ series and movies will also be available with audio descriptions in eight languages. read more

How To protect Your Hearing Using iOS 13 and watchOS 6

In this year’s iOS 13 release for iPhone and watchOS 6 for Apple Watch, Apple is implementing a pair of new hearing features, designed to help you prevent exposing yourself to loud environments and headphones levels for extended periods of time.

Here’s how both of those new features work.

Headphone Audio Level

In iOS 13, you can now view audio levels from the headphones you use. Apple categorizes your headphone volume levels into two decibel levels: “OK” to “Loud.”

How can you find this data? On your iPhone running iOS 13, open the Health app and select the “Search” tab along the bottom. You should then see a new “Hearing” option, select that and look for “Headphone Audio Levels.” read more

Apple Revamps the Accessibility Menu In iOS 13

The iPhone’s “Accessibility” menu for as long as the menu has been available, was in the “General” settings, but not in iOS 13.

While Accessibility is located within the General page of the Settings app in iOS 12 and under, Apple has since grown to realize just how important the setting is. It’s included more essential options such as Voice Control, a totally hands-free experience, and in doing so, the Accessibility menu has moved to a more prominent spot — the main Settings page. In doing so, Accessibility has also been cleaned up and organized, so there are more sub-menus, so options inside have also moved. read more

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