AirPods That Can Read Your Brainwaves | Root Hack

Rushen Wickramaratne
3 min readJul 31, 2023

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[Source: Twitter]

Apple has filed a patent for EEG-integrated AirPods, which would allow the headphones to measure electrical activity in the brain. This could be used for a variety of purposes, such as controlling music playback, navigating devices, or even providing medical insights.

EEG stands for Electroencephalography, a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures electrical activity in the brain using electrodes. EEG is a safe and painless procedure that can be used to assess brain function in a variety of settings.

How Would EEG-Integrated AirPods Work?

The EEG-integrated AirPods would use electrodes built into the earbuds to measure brain activity. The electrodes would be connected to a chip in the AirPods, which would then transmit the data to a device, such as an iphone, Mac or other compatible device in Apple’s ecosystem.

The electrodes would be placed in strategic locations on the earbuds to capture different types of brain activity. For example, electrodes placed near the ear canal could be used to measure alpha waves, which are associated with relaxation and focus. Electrodes placed near the temples could be used to measure beta waves, which are associated with attention and alertness.

The data collected by the AirPods would be used to control devices or provide medical insights. For example, the AirPods could be used to control music playback by detecting when the user is thinking about a specific song. The AirPods could also be used to detect signs of cognitive decline or mental health problems by tracking changes in brain activity over time.

Potential Applications of EEG-Integrated AirPods

The potential applications of EEG-integrated AirPods are vast. They could be used to:

  1. Control music playback and other devices.
  2. Navigate devices or environments.
  3. Provide medical insights, such as by detecting signs of cognitive decline or mental health problems.
  4. Assist people with disabilities.

For example, people with disabilities could use EEG-integrated AirPods to control their wheelchairs or other assistive devices. EEG-integrated AirPods could also be used to help people with dyslexia or other learning disabilities by providing real-time feedback on their reading comprehension.

What’s Next?

Apple has not yet announced any plans to release EEG-integrated AirPods. However, the patent suggests that the company is at least considering the possibility. If Apple does release such a product, it would be a major breakthrough in the field of brain-computer interfaces.

EEG-integrated AirPods are still in the early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. These headphones could make it easier for people with disabilities to use devices, and they could also provide valuable medical insights. It will be interesting to see if Apple releases such a product in the future.

-Rushen Wickramaratne

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Rushen Wickramaratne

Writer of Mindful Doubt : Challenging your assumptions leads to breakthroughs