The Power of Technology: Enhancing Accessibility with Cochlear and Apple

As we explore the world of technology, it's essential to consider how our devices impact those around us. Recently, I found myself pondering what the world would be like if I experienced hearing loss. The thought was both scary and sobering, as I realized that sound plays a significant role in my daily life. From waking up with an alarm set on my phone or watch to listening to podcasts in the shower and editing videos while working, sound is an integral part of my world.

The Accessibility Side of Apple Ecosystem

When it comes to technology, Apple's accessibility website emphasizes that it's most powerful when it empowers everyone. As someone who relies heavily on their devices for various tasks, I found it interesting to explore the accessibility side of the Apple ecosystem. Specifically, I wanted to learn more about Cochlear, a company that worked with Apple to develop the first-ever and only made-for-iPhone Cochlear implant sound processor, known as the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor.

The Goal Behind the Nucleus 7

The primary goal behind creating this device was to help iOS users manage their hearing and better connect to the technology and world around them. A Cochlear implant is a surgically implanted medical device that provides a sense of sound to people with hearing loss. The Nucleus 7 sound processor mimics the human ear and converts sound into digital signals that are transferred from the coil to the implant just under the skin.

SmartSound iQ: Mimicking Natural Hearing

Aside from being able to hear better, users can also use the Nucleus 7 to stream sound from a compatible iOS device directly to the Cochlear implant. This allows them to make calls, listen to music, watch videos, and even FaceTime. The Nucleus 7 is designed for comfort on top of being super advanced, making it Cochlear's smallest and lightest behind-the-ear hearing solution. It features SmartSound iQ, which automatically adjusts to the user's environment without the need for manual adjustments.

Dual Microphones and True Wireless Technology

The Nucleus 7 sound processor also boasts dual microphones to help filter out background noise. This technology uses 2.4 GHz True Wireless connectivity, eliminating the need for a neckloop. Additionally, the Nucleus 7 sound processors are water-resistant with the right accessories.

Cochlear's Sound Processor Options

Cochlear offers a choice of sound processors to fit your lifestyle and wearing preference. In addition to the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor, there is also the Kanso Sound Processor. The Kanso is the smallest and lightest off-the-ear hearing solution on the market, designed to be discreet and comfortable enough that people might forget they're wearing it.

The Kanso offers unique features like SmartSound iQ with SCAN tech and True Wireless connectivity. Both sound processor options allow people greater choice in controlling their hearing experience.

Companion App: Nucleus Smart App

The Nucleus Smart App is a companion app that adds extra functionality to the device. The app is sleek, simple, and well-designed, making it easy to use even for those who aren't tech-savvy. Within the app, users can control, monitor, customize, and adjust how sounds are heard.

Additional Features of the Nucleus Smart App

The app allows users to monitor the status and battery life of their sound processor, as well as track their hearing experience over time. It also provides analytics on where you've been and what your hearing experience has been like in different environments. This feature is particularly useful for people with hearing loss, who may want to focus on a specific task without being distracted by ambient noise.

Furthermore, the app offers features that are similar to Apple's Find My iPhone, allowing users to locate their lost or misplaced sound processor. There is also a feature that provides audio and visual alerts for "off-coil" events.

The Significance of Cochlear and Nucleus 7

Hearing loss affects approximately 1 in 10 people worldwide. With the rapid advancement of technology, it's essential to have simple and discreet solutions like the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor. Cochlear is always advancing their sound processors and ensuring that the implants are compatible with the latest technology.

Conclusion

The link between Cochlear and Apple highlights the importance of accessibility in technology. By exploring the features and benefits of the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor, we can better understand how to empower everyone through innovative solutions like this device.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enThis video is sponsored by Cochlear.Apple's accessibility website states thattechnology is most powerful when itempowers everyone. Have you ever stoppedto think about what the world would belike if you experienced hearing loss?I tried to picture it and it's kind ofscary. Every day I wake up using an alarmset on my phone or watch. Every day when I hop on the treadmill I catch up on the latest YouTube videos.Every day in the shower, I listen to a podcast.Every day when I'm driving somewhere, I pop in my favorite music to make the drive a little more enjoyable.Every day I edit videos, have conversations with my family,make phone calls and take meetings.If I were to experience hearing loss, it would be devastating.Sound is such a major part of my world,I think I'd feel pretty lost. Today's videois going to be a little different becauseit's gonna give us a chance to explorethe accessibility sideof something we talk about a lot here on the channel: the Apple ecosystem.There's this company called Cochlearthat worked with Apple to make the first-ever and only made for iPhone Cochlear implant sound processor.This is the nucleus 7 sound processor.The goal was to help iOS users managetheir hearing and better connect to thetechnology and world around them. If youdidn't know, a Cochlear implant is asurgically implanted medical device thatprovides a sense of soundto people with hearing loss.A sound processor like theNucleus 7 mimics the human ear andconverts sound into digital signals thatare transferred from the coil to theimplant just under the skin. So asidefrom being able to just hear better,users can also use the Nucleus 7 tostream sound from a compatible* iOSdevice directly to the Cochlear implant.So this allows them to make calls,listen to music, watch videos, FaceTime etc. All the stuff I was saying I use on a regular basis earlier.The Nucleus 7 is Cochlear's smallest and lightestbehind-the-ear hearing solution and it'sdesigned for comfort on top of beingsuper advanced. It makes use of SmartSound iQ* which is designed to mimicnatural hearing by automaticallyadjusting to the users environmentwithout the need for manual adjustments.It also has dual microphones to helpfilter out background noise and uses2.4 GHz True Wireless technologywhich eliminated the need for a neckloop.Oh, and I should mention: the Nucleus 7 sound processorsare water-resistant*with the right accessories.Cochlear offers a choice of soundprocessors to fit your lifestyle and your wearing preference.In addition to the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor,the Kanso Sound Processor is another Cochlear implant sound processor option.It is the smallest and lightest off-the-earhearing solution on the market designed to bediscreet and comfortable enoughthat people might forget they're wearing it.The Kanso is the only off-the-earCochlear implant sound processorwith two microphones providing the samehearing performance asthe behind-the-ear options and includes unique features like SmartSound iQ with SCAN tech and True Wireless connectivity.Both of these sound processor options allow peoplegreater choice in controlling theirhearing experience.There's also a companion app. It's called the Nucleus Smart App* which is now also availablefor Android users which adds some extrafunctionality.Now you guys know, I like to check out a lot of appsand this app is sleek and simple and well designed.Which is good because if you had to relyon it---that's exactly what you'd want.Within the app, users can control, monitor,customize and adjust how sounds are heard.Of course, it also lets you monitorthe status and battery lifeand it's cool that you can track your hearing and time and speech per day as well.I mean, there's some serious analytics here. The sound processor can actually tell youwhere you've been and what your hearingexperience has been like in a group orat the cafe or at home or listening tomusic with a breakdown of time spent.And it even offers stuff people withouthearing losscan't take advantage of like being ableto focus just on a phone call andcompletely turn down the ambient noiseof a surrounding coffee shop, for instance.There's also a feature that'svery similar to Apple's Find My iPhone featurethat lets users locate a lost ormisplaced sound processor. Which is pretty cool.Along with the ability toreceive audio and visual alerts for “off-coil” events.Why is this such a big deal?Well, the World Health Organization saysthat hearing loss affects 466 million people around the worldincluding nearly 50 millionAmericans---a number that's projected togrow to 900 million by 2050.So hearing loss is a pretty big issue.I mean, it could affect 1 in 10 people inabout 30 years. That's a lot of people.So if you end up being affected by hearingloss, you're obviously going to wanta simple and discreet solution and that'swhat the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor provides.There's something else thatI really like about the Cochlear and Nucleus 7 Sound Processor approach.Cochlear is always advancing their sound processorsand ensuring that theimplants are compatible with the latest technology.If you want to check out theNucleus 7, if you want to learn moreand see some great videos then make sure to check out the link down in the description.\n"