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Wild Rumor of Apple EarPods with Biometric Sensors Has Roots in Apple's Research
A seemingly wild rumor of Apple planning to launch new EarPods headphones with integrated heart rate and blood pressure sensors has been making the rounds today after the claim was posted on anonymous information sharing platform Secret (via Reddit).
But what makes the rumor a bit more interesting is that it has roots in Apple's research as documented in patent applications dating back years. Whether the Secret rumor is a fake inspired by those patent filings or if there actually is something to it is unknown, but it's worth taking another look at what Apple has proposed.
In one patent application filed in March 2007 and claiming a priority date of September 2006, Apple proposes using sensors integrated into various accessories or even devices themselves to collect physiological data.
Apple's concepts for sensor clipped onto earlobe (left) to monitor pulse/oxygen levels or adhered to the skin (right)
Alternatively, Apple proposes using sensors embedded in an iPod or iPhone "sling" armband to monitor such data. Notably, two of the inventors listed on the patent filing are longtime accessories head Jesse Dorogusker, who moved to Square in 2012, and "father of the iPod" Tony Fadell, who left Apple in 2008 before starting Nest.
A second filing, which was granted as a patent this February, more directly addresses headphone-based physiological monitoring, although the application is also quite old, having been filed in August 2008 with an October 2007 priority date.
Apple's concepts for sensors integrated directly into earpiece (left) or in a separate housing (right)
Biometrics have been rumored to be a significant part of iOS 8, with a new "Healthbook" app for tracking various types of health-related information being a key addition to Apple's mobile operating system. With Apple also rumored to be deploying biometric sensors in an upcoming iWatch, it's clear that the company has been looking at ways of collecting health-related data for many years and the effort may finally be coming together.
Apple's new EarPods will have sensors in them, for heart rate & blood pressure. Also iBeacons so they don't get lost. They will require the lightning port, it's why the audio jack was moved to the bottom. [...]While a number of major tech stories have in fact broken on Secret, the anonymous nature of the platform makes it all but impossible to separate legitimate claims from fiction without corroborating information from other sources. As a result, it's easy to dismiss this EarPods rumor from someone claiming to have recently been let go from Apple.
It stores the data in a similar way to thumbprint point data, fully encrypted and nothing identifiable. But nice to send to your doctor to keep track of at which point your blood pressure started rising for example. [...]
Redesigned remote too. Extra mic for better noise canceling.
But what makes the rumor a bit more interesting is that it has roots in Apple's research as documented in patent applications dating back years. Whether the Secret rumor is a fake inspired by those patent filings or if there actually is something to it is unknown, but it's worth taking another look at what Apple has proposed.
In one patent application filed in March 2007 and claiming a priority date of September 2006, Apple proposes using sensors integrated into various accessories or even devices themselves to collect physiological data.
The present invention can include systems and methods for integrating sensors for tracking a user's performance metrics into electronic devices and accessories therefor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic devices can include portable media devices similar to iPods sold by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. or cellular telephones similar to iPhones designed by Apple Inc.
In one embodiment, the present invention can include headsets having one or more integrated physiological sensors. The headsets can be, for example, headphones for receiving audio signals from a media device or headsets for communication with cellular telephones. The sensor signals can be transmitted to a data repository through the same communication channel through which audio signals are transmitted to the headset (e.g., hard-wired or wireless).
Alternatively, Apple proposes using sensors embedded in an iPod or iPhone "sling" armband to monitor such data. Notably, two of the inventors listed on the patent filing are longtime accessories head Jesse Dorogusker, who moved to Square in 2012, and "father of the iPod" Tony Fadell, who left Apple in 2008 before starting Nest.
A second filing, which was granted as a patent this February, more directly addresses headphone-based physiological monitoring, although the application is also quite old, having been filed in August 2008 with an October 2007 priority date.
The invention pertains to a monitoring system that can be placed proximate to the head or ear of a user. According to one embodiment, the monitoring system can be used with a hearing device, headphones, earbuds or headsets. The monitoring system can, for example, be used to monitor user activity, such as during exercise or sporting activities. The positioning of the monitoring system can also facilitate sensing of other user characteristics (e.g., biometric data), such as temperature, perspiration and heart rate.
Advantageously, the invention can provide monitoring capabilities within a hearing device. Assuming the user is otherwise using the hearing device, such as to provide audio output by a portable media player, the user gains monitoring capabilities without requiring the user to wear or carry an additional article.
Biometrics have been rumored to be a significant part of iOS 8, with a new "Healthbook" app for tracking various types of health-related information being a key addition to Apple's mobile operating system. With Apple also rumored to be deploying biometric sensors in an upcoming iWatch, it's clear that the company has been looking at ways of collecting health-related data for many years and the effort may finally be coming together.
Tag: patent
[ 146 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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63 months ago
Headphones that tell you you're fat.
Revolutionary. Magically Delicious.
Revolutionary. Magically Delicious.
63 months ago
Nobody with any common sense uses Apple's headphones now.
Not being fooled into spending $399 for a pair of in ear headphones and instead using the pair that came free with your iPhone sounds like common sense to me.
And they aren't actually THAT bad. I find them comfortable and think they sound reasonable.
63 months ago
If true, those headphones better be comfortable.
Something the current EarPods are not.
63 months ago
"Yes. No one charges their phone when doing any sort of fitness anyways so it won't make a difference for most."
But many people listen to their music whilst charging their device e.g. when studying in the library - I have done this countless amount of times. If such a thing happens, it'd be a stupid move by Apple. However Apple would not make such a move as they may just be able to do this through the headphone jack by embedding such technologies into the port.
But many people listen to their music whilst charging their device e.g. when studying in the library - I have done this countless amount of times. If such a thing happens, it'd be a stupid move by Apple. However Apple would not make such a move as they may just be able to do this through the headphone jack by embedding such technologies into the port.
63 months ago
Nobody with any common sense uses Apple's headphones now, so Apple will either have to make this an open implementation standard (ha!), or this data isn't worth having to put up with crappy sound.
The worst case scenario would be another ****** "made for iPhone" licensing debacle driving up prices and down quality like the controller or charging cable situations.
I'm a producer and I take sound quality pretty seriously. The EarPods are pretty good for daily commute use. The bass reflex is fairly strong. And the mids are about as good as earpieces get. Nowhere near a good set of speakers, but great daily use phones.
Now the older ones from 2001-2012. They sucked big time. I couldn't listen to memos on those bits of rubbish.
63 months ago
Nonsense, for several medical reasons.
Not least of which is you can't measure blood pressure in your ear.
Not least of which is you can't measure blood pressure in your ear.
63 months ago
If true, those headphones better be comfortable. Also, if headphones do in fact end up using the lightning port, then, that just means the replacement headphones will be expensive.
63 months ago
Nobody with any common sense uses Apple's headphones now, so Apple will either have to make this an open implementation standard (ha!), or this data isn't worth having to put up with crappy sound.
The worst case scenario would be another ****** "made for iPhone" licensing debacle driving up prices and down quality like the controller or charging cable situations.
The worst case scenario would be another ****** "made for iPhone" licensing debacle driving up prices and down quality like the controller or charging cable situations.
63 months ago
Yeah, because something hasn't been possible in the past, that means it's not possible, period?
You cannot measure blood pressure from the ear. Period. In order to measure blood pressure extravascularly, one needs to physical occlude an artery which, by the way, humans do not have one available to occlude in the external ear canal. Technology certain may evolve quickly, producing things we never thought were possible, but the human body does not. So, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
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