‘Hearables’ could soon help with work and school while remaining invisible

Hearables are wireless smart micro-computers with artificial intelligence that incorporate both speakers and microphones. They fit in the ears and can connect to the internet and to other devices, and are designed to be worn daily. Some technology companies are now marketing these as “the future of hearing enhancement,” and focusing on their capacities to disrupt existing hearing aid markets.

But hearables aren’t hearing aids, ear plugs, headphones or headsets, although they could acquire the benefits of these devices. This means that one could rely on hearables as a kind of always-worn personal assistant nested in the ear, whether used for whispering scheduling reminders, playing music, amplifying sound or talking with friends.

But with AI, the hearable can also be used to determine the physiological condition of the user, along with their present knowledge or skill level in any content they’re accessing: for instance, when learning a new language.

As an expert in educational technology, I believe hearables have potential for education. Educational technology entrepreneurs are now discussing how this new reliance on aural technologies can result in greater incorporation of voice into learning, a shift from relying primarily on texts for transferring knowledge.

To accompany traditional forms of classroom education or online education, hearables can support the delivery of lectures, educational podcasts, notifications and reminders through a wide variety of applications while supporting interactivity.

With hearables, instant replay and recording of words are also possible, so students could check their understanding of a lesson. Intelligent hearables could even determine the context and choose the right time and place to deliver the best content.

Another important feature for education is the ability to translate between languages.

In music education and language teaching, hearables are poised to play a significant role as listening is at the centre of both music and language comprehension. Music and language students could access relevant content from anywhere and practise their lessons. In addition, the biometric capabilities of the devices allow for measuring health and fitness variables, and so can be useful in health education.

Learners could use hearables almost anywhere with internet connectivity to communicate with teachers and other students. For example, while commuting, students could collaborate on projects and access content with text-to-speech technologies and talk directly with their teacher for advice.

Beyond using hearables in formal and informal educational and learning settings, these devices can also be well-integrated into the normal life and activities and used for more than learning — for instance, using voice commands to control home devices.

Hearables could be used by workers in manufacturing facilities or other professional settings.