This is how the headphones have passed from sound amplifiers to powerful specialized computers

In recent years, news related to smart glasses have made the headlines more and more. It seems that this type of technology is positioned as the long -term successor of mobile phones, but it is obvious that it can be A help element for many peopleBoth in Europe and other countries.

Something similar happens in the auditory field, where Hearing aids have undergone a real revolution over the past decade. They have gone from analog devices of a certain weight and volume to devices which could well appear in a spy film.

We talked about this type of devices with Ignacio Martínez Romero, director of multioptic audiologyWho told us how the present was taking place in this technology, as focused on his business and what we should expect in the future. Of course, this is something important since according to the studies they contemplate More than 4,500,000 Spaniards have a certain type of auditory problem.

A barrier to demolish

Problems hearing, unlike vision, They have always had some stigma in Europe. People generally do not have complexes to wear glasses, but wearing headphones always felt as something negative, perhaps as a sign that old age has reached us.

According to Martínez, “stigma decreases considerably but does not only disappear. There are still psychological barriers between adults of average age. Statistics indicate that it takes on average 7 years because a problem is detected until it is accepted that a hearing aid is necessary.”

Fortunately Technology means that these prejudices slowly decreaseWith “factors that normalize use, size and design by being more discreet. There is also a greater social conscience of hearing health and generational change. In fact, people who had ten years ago are now open to adopting technology, with 60 years.” This also helps that “hearing aids are approaching portable devices, providing additional improvements to what the earphones had previously”.

This trend will be something which, in the future, will increase, Due to the aging of the population, as young people can also develop hearing problems By excessive and continuous exposure to too strong sounds. In fact, the director of multi-picicos audiology tells us that in the company “with more than 45 years of experience in visual health, we have always taken into account hearing health. It is a market, but we always have a first approach to the subject as a health problem.”

In addition, the expert indicates that he has confidence The use of hearing aids will be standardized, reducing the stigma of headphones transport. First, due to the impact on health awareness, and secondly because the devices are normalized like any other type of technology. “”

Peak technology

The change that has been experienced in this industry is enormous. We have gone from devices that amplified the sound they received, without filtering, to the devices which are computers specialized in the processing of sound wavesWith what it means. “The transformation of the design into a helmet was radical. Two decades ago, we had analog technology. Currently, technology is able to filter sound and not amplify everything as before, but those that the user needs.”

We face A greater change than we have seen in the jump of mobiles to smartphonesBecause in audiology “Potentiometers have been used before, microputs are now used, which helps reduce size and less energy, so that such large batteries are necessary.” It also means that “the famous BIP generated by the interaction of the microphone and the speaker has corrected a lot in recent years”.

The progress we have seen in smartphones and smartphones, with Frequency management, selective noise cancellation and other changes are also observed in headphonesWho are “capable of increasing volume by frequency, using special software and algorithms, improving consumption”.

These new headphones “have gone from amplifiers to computers, using chips designed for audio treatment and sound improvement according to environmental sounds.” You can even use artificial intelligence to improve the user experience. Martínez tells us that “all user configuration information can be used to form models that improve the functioning of hearing aids, of course, comply with data protection and always the express permission of patients.”

As advanced appearances with a Bluetooth connection, they can be used with mobile phones, using this technology and Asha with Android and MFI (designed for iPhone) for iOS. In addition, recently, Google has announced that Android would be compatible with aerodromes and new hearing aids.

Increase the possibilities

In addition to being able to resolve the hearing problems of the people who carry them, New hearing aids have functions that improve the day -to -day experienceEven above the people who do not use them. For example, they can be associated with other devices, such as televisions.

The Multiptic Executive tells us that many models “have applications that allow the sound of mobile to equalize, collecting sound from a specific direction. Some even allow geolocation adjustments And I believe that in the future, there will be with biometric sensors, for the detection of falls, for example. “”

“There are even manufacturers who work to implement headphones within the IoT (Internet of objects) to communicate with other devices. “There are currently models that allow” to go to a press conference and even if we are far away, we can put a device near the speaker and we will listen to much better. He makes a remote microphone. “”

When asked for how he values ​​the approach of certain brands of consumer technology in this sector, such as Apple's announcement that AirPods Pro 2 can be used as hearing aids, Ignacio stresses that “Although there are convergences between headphones and headphones, as a health professional, I don't put them at the same level. Hearing aids have precise adjustments based on clinical tests and which considerably improves experience. “”

“Hearing aids correspond to a clinical situation, but the headphones do not approach personalization and sophisticated amplification of hearing aids.” In addition, “companies need medical licenses to use headphones and it takes them away from headphones”. It could be, as he tells us, an alternative for some peoplePersonally, for users in the early stages, to break the stigma. But they could not replace hearing aids in all cases, and even less in patients with moderate or serious losses.

Artificial intelligence

This market is not unrelated to the changes that take place in artificial intelligence and, in fact, it takes advantage of it. The director of multioptic audiology tells us that in his business, they “work with AI companies for product versions with this technology. In a few years, AI will be integrated to improve patient experience”.

This technology is able to “learn user preferences and automatically adjust the settings according to the context. You can even understand who the user is careful to improve hearing”. In his opinion “The main manufacturers will surely develop technologies to implement the current vocal participants of large companies“Of course, we must be aware that” confidentiality and autonomy can be elements that slow the adoption of AI. “”

More autonomy with less battery

Thanks to processors improvements and the radical change in analog technology to digital, The autonomy of current headphones is much better than what we had ten years ago. Ignacio Martínez indicates that “rechargeable headphones came out about 7 or 8 years ago and at the beginning, it used to be used, because people of a certain age do not like change. At two years old, we realized that this change was inevitable.”

The use is very similar to that of wireless headphones, with A loading box which allows us to leave them at night and to have autonomy of up to 30 hours in certain models And even a quick load of 30 minutes and have a battery for 4 hours of use. Currently, the use of rechargeable headphones is 70%, with 30% that still works with batteries.

But technological progress does not only occur in autonomy. With hydrophobic nanotechnology, the ear box and water are repeated And there are even models with IP68 certification. In addition, “they are very mechanically resistant. It is not only software technology, but many manufacturing advances are used, R&D …”

All these changes have made the price of hearing aids varied from the hand of technology, as happened with the rest of the devices. However, prices are similar to a few years ago, taking into account the advantages they apply. Even the range of options is greater than 10 or 15 years, for sizes, aesthetic customization …