Audio technology has come a long way. People could only listen to their favourite musician on a gramophone just several decades ago, and they had to be in a particular space to do that. Today, we can connect our mobile devices to headphones and earbuds and listen to music anywhere. Although this looks impressive on its own, futuristic developers look to raise the bar even higher.
Imagine listening to a podcast without any earbuds or headphones. Just direct signals from your device to your brain without using your ears! This appears like a scene out of a Sci-Fi movie, but you will soon discover that it is close to becoming reality. Let’s explore how and why.
What is brain-directed audio technology?
Conventionally, every time you hear a sound, your brain does not hear it directly. The sound waves cause vibrations in your eardrum. These vibrations then send signals to your brain to acknowledge and interpret the sounds.
However, with brain-directed audio technology, your ears will not be needed anymore; audio signals will bypass your ears to the neural pathways or the auditory cortex of your brain. Essentially, you will be able to hear without using your ears. Still wondering if this is possible? How did you hear your thoughts when no one spoke?
Well, a few organisations are leading the way in this groundbreaking technology. Firms like Neuralink, NextMinds, and DARPA are developing and testing technologies that aim to transmit auditory signals through neuro-conduction, ultrasound modulation, or forms of non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCI).
How does brain-directed audio technology work?
Several methods are being explored to bring this technology to life. Methods such as directional beams, binaural and monaural beats, memory wave, and non-invasive brain-computer interfaces make the list. However, let’s look at the core components that form the fundamental principles of every method.
1. There has to be an input source where sound is captured or digitally generated.
2. A computer uses special algorithms to transform the captured or generated sound into patterns that could be received and interpreted by neurons in the brain.
3. After signal processing, transmission could be performed using electromagnetic signals, ultrasonic waves, or devices implanted into the neural system. Transmission occurs when the processed signals are sent to the brain.
4. The brain receives and interprets the transmitted signal as recognisable sound. The sound should be perceived as normal hearing, but this time without using the ears.
As it stands, this technology is still in its infancy stage, but results from prototypes are giving hope that hearing without the ears might soon become a reality. Should this happen, people will have private, high-fidelity sound delivered directly to their minds.
Why could this replace headphones
While some people argue that this technology, when developed, may not totally replace headphones for reasons such as fashion, here are a few reasons it might.
Zero discomfort to the ears
Imagine seeing a movie or jogging through the park without uncomfortable fits around your ears. You also don’t have to untangle wires before listening to a private voice message in a public area. Also, there won’t be a need to charge your devices or carry any audio device around. It is simply listening to sound without being encumbered.
Complete privacy
In highly confidential endeavours, like in the military, where information leaks could have a very devastating effect, this technology would prove helpful. Even in a crowded location, one can receive confidential information or silent directions.
Safety benefits
Excessive and prolonged exposure to loud music has been known to damage the eardrum. This damage could lead to various degrees of hearing problems.
However, this breakthrough would help mitigate the occurrence of hearing loss due to ear fatigue or a damaged eardrum. Bone conduction headsets are the closest we have currently to this technology and have been beneficial to allow for safe voice communications in noisy and dangerous environments.
Breakthrough for individuals with hearing challenges
The limitations of current hearing aids could be surmounted with this technology by bypassing areas of auditory nerve damage to stimulate the brain directly.
Better entertainment experience
This technology has the potential to completely transform the way we enjoy entertainment. Gaming becomes more immersive when sound effects reach your brain directly without any barriers. Players could hear every footstep, explosion, or whispered strategy with crystal clarity. Even online roulette players could experience realistic casino sounds and dealer voices as if they were sitting at a real table in Las Vegas.
Movies and shows would feel like you’re inside the action rather than watching it. Horror films become genuinely scary when atmospheric sounds seem to come straight into your thoughts. Action sequences feel more intense because every punch, crash, and dialogue hits your brain without delay.
To wrap it up
While we await the full maturity of brain-directed audio technology, the benefits it promises include zero discomfort to the ears, total privacy, health and safety, and a breakthrough in hearing loss. Nevertheless, developers are also working to overcome potential challenges, including ethical concerns, health risks, technical barriers, and costs. Despite this, it is widely believed that it is only a matter of time before we have access to technology that will help us hear without our ears.