

A new technology has the world by the ears. The new aural devices can do more than just play music. They can monitor health, track fitness, and accept voice commands. And with artificial intelligence programmed in, they can determine what you already know—say, when you’re learning to speak a new language—and prompt you with the information you need to progress.
Some experts call the wearable ear tech the “the future of hearing enhancement.”
Hearables (aka smart earbuds or smart headphones) are wireless in-ear microcomputers. Hearable is a portmanteau, a word that combines hearing and wearable. The term has been around since 2014, but it’s only just coming into its own.
Researchers are developing hearables as a type of always-worn personal assistant—one that’s essentially whispering right in the user’s ear. Hearables can connect to the internet and to other devices.
Hearables aren’t (yet) meant to replace hearing aids, ear plugs, headphones, headsets—or teachers. But they could someday operate in the role of each of those. As a daily wearable, hearables seem poised to revolutionize several fields, including education, health and fitness, and, well, everyday life.
Rory McGreal is an educational technology expert who sees the potential for hearables in learning. He believes hearables could result in a shift from text-based learning. He says they have the potential to support and/or develop the following:
- - lectures
- - podcasts
- - notifications
- - reminders
- - student interaction
- - instant replay
- - recording
- - translation
- - music listening
- - skills practice
- - communication
- - collaboration
- - content access
- - language learning
- - public speaking
- - interviews
- - teamwork
Whew!
Beyond their use in educational settings, hearables can also integrate with ordinary home or office activities. Suppose you hear Mom or Dad ask out loud for a recipe. The in-ear device reads off ingredients while your parent scans the pantry.
There are still challenges in using hearables. The most significant are technical limitations. Manufacturers need to reduce power usage and battery size—at the same time as increasing battery life and connectivity (to internet and/or Wi-Fi).
Hearable companies must combat the stigma of hearables, which some people negatively associate with hearing aids and aging. Others think their use around others is rude and dismissive of the real, live humans nearby.
Some companies are focusing on stylishness—colors, shapes, and materials, so that the devices are worn like jewelry. Others promote these in-ear microcomputers as the next big thing in wearable tech.
Today, smart devices are everywhere among us. This isn’t true of hearables . . . yet. But it’s likely the small earpieces with the big skills are here to stay. Soon that little voice may literally be in your head.
Why? As technology expands possibilities in ways it was difficult to imagine just a few years ago, believers can sift the culture’s offerings for ways to love and serve others well, while also safeguarding against invasive or easy-to-abuse developments.
Pray: For wisdom to use technology in positive and sound ways.
say what
that is kinda scary 'cause you would never know if somebody was recording what you say
Also the wearables hear what you hear?
your own wearable is stalking you!! imagine if it identified the crinkle of a candy wrapper and told your mother? or if it detected you were going too fast in a car and contacted the police?
Wearing one of those
Wearing one of those literally allows you to allow yourself to be stalked if that makes sense
Ha Jonathan I got 1st 2nd and
Ha Jonathan I got 1st 2nd and 3rd
and now 4th and 5th
and now 4th and 5th
ummm...
I think its creepy because it is wispering in your ear
Query.
Are there any skateboarding Stories?
@caden W
I'm sorry for what I said in the Friday funnies oct 15 I realize now what I said
awsome
this sounds realy cooool
@XK
Yeah but phones and iPads and Alexa all already probably spy on you
:)
I think this is cool! :)
@CADEN W
I have a skateboarding.. well longboarding story: I was riding around my neighborhood, my neighborhood has some good hills and I was going to fast and when I came around a corner this car was parked in the middle of the road. I swerved and then feel and broke my coller bone (-___-) not fun but I still love the boards.
Interesting...
But also a little creepy. Sometimes I think the world is going a little TOO far.
@Seth `
What did you say?
@Elisha
O_O
People should be more careful where they park their cars
@caden
I said lets go brandon and you said something about it being offensive which i realize it is so sorry
@Seth
Its ok I was just acting on my two brain cells
@Seth
Just blot out that part about "Acting on my two brain cells"
all this tech is getting
all this tech is getting creepy, I agree with @ Xander K
caden w
ima not sure what you mean ?
can u explain
@Elisha N
You said the car was parked in the middle of the street right? It was really not smart on the car owner's behalf. The middle of. the street.
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - | (The apple is the car)
@Faith (sarcastic voice) But....
doesn't everyone want some random computer voice whispering in their ear all the time? @Gideon yeah I agree. Whenever my mom has Facebook open and she says something ( for example one time she said she wanted a new vacuum) a random ad for said thing pops up a few minutes later. So she stopped using Facebook.
@Quinnlyn M
My mother deleted Facebook 4 the exact same reason
This is terrifying
I just had a thought; what if the hearables, like, blocked out sound that you're supposed to receive and inserted its own sound? Not likely but still
@quinlinn
My school had a skating event and my teacher was talking about it with her phone on and on YouTube or something (I forgot) she got a lot of ads for ice skates
Oh sorry i misspelled your
Oh sorry i misspelled your name