The Stanford University neuroscientist and chief scientist at Dolby Laboratories coined the Ear Gadgets known as “hearables,” which communicate with the neural signals passing through our ears in order to monitor and interact with our brains.
Hearables could help us focus on specific conversations, like smart hearing aids, or monitor our brain activity to treat tinnitus. The emerging tech stands to blur the lines between artificial and biological intelligence, augmenting our thought processes and collaborating with our brains.
Based on the progress of various teams around the world, Crum argues that the technology for these wearable brain-computer interfaces could be developed within five years.
One of the scientists crum highlights that “The ear is like a biological equivalent of a USB port.” “It is unparalleled not only as a point for ‘writing‘ to the brain, as happens when our earbuds transmit the sounds of our favorite music, but also for ‘reading‘ from the brain.”
“When we do, hearables will constantly and silently assess and anticipate our needs and state of mind while helping us cope with the world around us,” Crum writes. “They will be our true life partners.”