Apple Used Bluetooth Low Energy Audio for Cochlear Implant iPhone Accessory

late last month apple revealed had partnered hearing aid company cochlear launch first made iphone cochlear implant, can stream audio ios device directly surgically embedded sound processor.

now, in new wired article titled "how apple putting voices in users' heads - literally", company has offered few more details on how able achieve technical feat of transmitting high bandwidth data such low-powered device.

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solve problem of streaming high-quality audio without draining tiny zinc batteries in hearing aids, apple's accessibility team had create more advanced version of existing bluetooth low energy profile.

bluetooth le meant used send low-bandwidth data signals, getting heart rate monitor readings wearables, apple developed more advanced version called bluetooth low energy audio (blea), can stream high quality audio whilst preserving le profile's battery-extending properties.

apple has had blea in works time, , profile appeared in patents dating 2014, first time apple has spoken using profile in actual consumer product.

sarah herrlinger, apple's director of global accessibility policy, summarized company's efforts following comments:

quote

while our devices have been built support hearing aids years, found experience of people trying make phone call not one. brought lot of people in different areas around company start investigating ways make process easier.

our goal rid of things need batteries , can in way, when phone call comes in hit button answer , sound streaming hearing aid.

click expand...

the technical detail bluetooth profile revealed in context of story of implant wearer mathias bahnmueller, 49-year-old suffers hearing loss , uses system developed apple , cochlear. called nucleus 7 sound processor, device won fda approval in june , first of kind in hearing aid industry.

extended article worth read, , tim cook has shared piece on twitter, saying proud of work apple doing in area.

article link: apple used bluetooth low energy audio cochlear implant iphone accessory

 

tech used improve lives. thing.

 

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