Apple has patented a new AirPods sensor system that integrates active and reference electrodes into the housing and tips to measure brain activity and other biosignals[1]. The system can monitor electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and electrooculography (EOG) through electrodes placed around the outer ear[2].
The technology uses dynamic electrode selection, intelligently choosing specific electrodes based on user parameters and wearing conditions to optimize accuracy[2:1]. Users could potentially activate measurements through simple gestures like tapping the AirPods tip[2:2].
However, experts note significant challenges - current in-ear EEG systems require patient-specific 3D ear scans and careful cleaning procedures that may not align with Apple’s consumer product approach[3].
I know this is the science community, not the corpo bashing community, but you’ve got to be a real sucker to buy into this one. One I don’t trust it will be accurate, as it says. Two, they can use your data and sell it. Three, they can forge your results and push you towards purchases to “fix” you.
Not to defend Apple’s other problems, but they do market the concept that they are one of the very few tech companies that don’t sell data.
For now.
It does collect data to provide services and show targeted ads within its own platforms. So, my third point still rings true.
They don’t sell because they know the value of it and want to use it themselves. Why would they empower their rivals by sharing their data?
In comparison to tech rivals, they actively don’t collect a lot of the data they could be gathering and its been argued it’s one reason Siri is so ineffably stupid in comparison to eg google.
That is not really what I get when I read their terms.
"Apple’s advertising platform receives information about the ads you tap and view against a random identifier not tied to your Apple Account. Apple does not share any personal data with third parties. We make certain non-personal data available to our advertisers and strategic partners that work with Apple to provide our products and services, help Apple market to customers, and sell ads on Apple’s behalf. No Apple Pay transactions or Health app data is accessible to Apple’s advertising platform, or is used for advertising purposes. Apple does not know or make available to advertisers information about your sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political affiliations"So they definitely use your “anonymized” data to help advertisers reach you on their platform. Also the part about Apple does not know or make available is some seriously weird lingo. They do know for sure, but they don’t make it available supposedly, but I highly doubt that.
So they are not really about you privacy per se because they are into ad revenue for themselves, but they are claiming to not actively sell your data to third parties (except the government of course).
I wonder how anonymous this data really is as researches have been able to pierce the veil and use this type of data to create an entire profile about you.
but you’ve got to be a real sucker to buy into this one.
People own water filters and beds that don’t work when the Amazon servers go down.
People have subscriptions to improve their car’s acceleration or get seat warmers to work.
People voted for Trump and still think they did the right thing.
There are plenty of suckers who will buy these things.
Apple users bought the Magic Mouse. They’ll buy this.
I also don’t mean to defend Apple, but isn’t this the same idea behind that children’s game where you levitate a ball with your brain, combined with a fitness band? None of these readings can be used to interpret your state of mind.
Although if they are able to use them in concert to detect something like a panic attack, I would welcome the technology from a more health-focused device. I can think of multiple instances I would like to have bad mental times softened with a warning, especially now that I know paracetamol helps dampen mental distress.
I know this is the science community, not the corpo bashing community, but you’ve got to be a real sucker to buy into this one.
Yeah, but what about when they bring this tech to their airpod subwoofer??
Are the masses ever going to say no to assisting in their our re-enslavement or should we just start considering them a threat?
The average person doesn’t care about this sort of stuff. Look around, man.