3 ms·

This problem could be solved easily. One could put some kind of tiny sticker on their AirPods - it would take sometime for it to become mainstream - like an ora

This problem could be solved easily. One could put some kind of tiny sticker on their AirPods - it would take sometime for it to become mainstream - like an orange color ring - indicating the user is using the AirPods as hearing aids. (This is a people problem…)

wpollock 2y ago
The answer is handicap hang tags, like those used in cars, but worn as earrings. <wink>
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
hunter2_ 2y ago
The sticker/paint could change all of the white into a skin tone, the way many hearing aids are. Maybe similar to wrapping a car with vinyl, or nail polish.
sneak 2y ago
Some RGB LEDs in the airpods that change color depending on the mode could also achieve this.
- ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
  The issue would be battery use. The batteries in these things are tiny, and using them as hearing aids could mean longer use. Having a phone lockscreen indicator of status would be a good way to show this. I think the phone interface for audiograms is ridiculously complex. They need to improve that.
  - echoangle 2y ago
    How would a phone lockscreen indicator work? If someone walks up to you in a store with AirPods in, how are you seeing the indicator on the phone in their pocket? The situations where I can look at the lock screen of the phone of the person I'm speaking to are pretty limited.
    - ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
      Good point. But LEDs would probably take too much battery power. Not sure if the new color eInk would be useful.
      - echoangle 2y ago
        Quick maths on the LED thing: According to Wikipedia, AirPods Pro Gen 1 have 0.16 Wh of battery per AirPod (There's no data on Gen 2). With 5 hours listening time, that gives a power draw of 0.032 watts or 32 milliwatts. This answer https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/640179 https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/640179 (I know, not the best source, but I'm just guesstimating anyways) gives a current of 1 mA at 5 V for an indicator LED. So the LED would need 5 mW. That increases power draw to 37 milliwatts and gives a new battery life of about 4 hours and 20 minutes. If using 5 mA, which the answer calls "blindingly bright for some clear LEDs, even from 10 feet away", the LED would draw 25 mW and reduce listening time to only 2 hours and 50 minutes. The answer is also about non-diffuse LEDs so the indicator would only be visible from a narrow angle, but since it would point forward, that's probably fine. Making it diffuse would reduce perceived brightness again. Brightness could be fine indoors, but outside with direct sun is probably harder. Since you would have the LED on both AirPods, you could probably expect that at least one of them is in the shadow at any time though.

wpollock 2y ago

The answer is handicap hang tags, like those used in cars, but worn as earrings. <wink>

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

hunter2_ 2y ago

The sticker/paint could change all of the white into a skin tone, the way many hearing aids are. Maybe similar to wrapping a car with vinyl, or nail polish.

sneak 2y ago

Some RGB LEDs in the airpods that change color depending on the mode could also achieve this.

ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
The issue would be battery use. The batteries in these things are tiny, and using them as hearing aids could mean longer use. Having a phone lockscreen indicator of status would be a good way to show this. I think the phone interface for audiograms is ridiculously complex. They need to improve that.
- echoangle 2y ago
  How would a phone lockscreen indicator work? If someone walks up to you in a store with AirPods in, how are you seeing the indicator on the phone in their pocket? The situations where I can look at the lock screen of the phone of the person I'm speaking to are pretty limited.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
    Good point. But LEDs would probably take too much battery power. Not sure if the new color eInk would be useful.
    - echoangle 2y ago
      Quick maths on the LED thing: According to Wikipedia, AirPods Pro Gen 1 have 0.16 Wh of battery per AirPod (There's no data on Gen 2). With 5 hours listening time, that gives a power draw of 0.032 watts or 32 milliwatts. This answer https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/640179 https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/640179 (I know, not the best source, but I'm just guesstimating anyways) gives a current of 1 mA at 5 V for an indicator LED. So the LED would need 5 mW. That increases power draw to 37 milliwatts and gives a new battery life of about 4 hours and 20 minutes. If using 5 mA, which the answer calls "blindingly bright for some clear LEDs, even from 10 feet away", the LED would draw 25 mW and reduce listening time to only 2 hours and 50 minutes. The answer is also about non-diffuse LEDs so the indicator would only be visible from a narrow angle, but since it would point forward, that's probably fine. Making it diffuse would reduce perceived brightness again. Brightness could be fine indoors, but outside with direct sun is probably harder. Since you would have the LED on both AirPods, you could probably expect that at least one of them is in the shadow at any time though.