Bengaluru innovators unlock hearing aid feature in Apple AirPods for grandmothers: Report

Three Bengaluru tech enthusiasts have unlocked the hearing aid feature in Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 for their grandmothers, using creative solutions.

Published on: Nov 17, 2024 10:30 AM IST

By Yamini C S

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In a heart warming development, three young tech enthusiasts from Bengaluru have found a way to enable the hearing aid feature in Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, a function blocked in India due to regulatory restrictions. Driven by their desire to help their grandmothers, the trio — Rithwik Jayasimha, Arnav Bansal, and Rithwik Ribhu — crafted a clever solution that combines technical ingenuity with everyday materials, The Times of India reported.

The three men successfully activated the hearing aids feature in Apple AirPods for over 30 people. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP)

The challenge began when Jayasimha excitedly purchased AirPods for his grandmother, only to discover the feature wasn’t accessible in India. Undeterred, he teamed up with his friends to “trick” the device into thinking it was in a country where the feature is allowed, such as the United States.

Using aluminium foil, a microwave, copper mesh, and an ESP 32 chip, they created a Faraday Cage to block Wi-Fi signals. They then used open-source tools to spoof the device’s location, successfully activating the hearing aid function, the report said. The AirPods were customized with settings like volume and sound balance, making them more user-friendly than traditional hearing aids.

The men wanted something simple and smart for their grandmothers, said Bansal, explaining how their AirPods offered features like conversation awareness and personalized sound adjustments.

After sharing their project online, the team was inundated with requests and has since helped over 30 people activate the feature. They operate from their home lab, humorously named “Lagrange Point,” where they also work on other tech solutions, such as water-cooled suits for delivery workers and accessible clothing for Parkinson’s patients, the publication added.

While Apple has yet to comment, the trio hopes the hearing aid feature will soon receive regulatory approval in India. Until then, they remain committed to using technology to solve everyday challenges, the report further stated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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