In a groundbreaking patent application published by the US Patent & Trademark Office, Apple has unveiled plans for a next-generation…

Apple has patented a new AirPods sensor system that integrates active and reference electrodes into the housing and tips to measure brain activity and other biosignals[1]. The system can monitor electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and electrooculography (EOG) through electrodes placed around the outer ear[2].

The technology uses dynamic electrode selection, intelligently choosing specific electrodes based on user parameters and wearing conditions to optimize accuracy[2:1]. Users could potentially activate measurements through simple gestures like tapping the AirPods tip[2:2].

However, experts note significant challenges - current in-ear EEG systems require patient-specific 3D ear scans and careful cleaning procedures that may not align with Apple’s consumer product approach[3].

  1. LinkedIn - Apple’s AirPods Revolution: New Patent for Measuring Biosignals and Reading Minds ↩︎

  2. Medium - Apple’s Next-Gen AirPods with Brainwave Monitoring ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Manifold Markets - Will Apple Airpods have EEG based BCI control features by 2026? ↩︎

  • azimir@lemmy.ml
    5·
    14 days ago

    In 2021, writer and game designer Alex Blechman inadvertently created a meme:

    _Sci-Fi Author: “In my book I invented the Torment Nexus as a cautionary tale.”

    Tech Company: “At long last, we have created the Torment Nexus from classic sci-fi novel Don’t Create The Torment Nexus!”_

    So… There’s Apple working away on building yet another version of the Torment Nexus.