Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 3 hrs ago
Doppler Labs’ in-ear computing vision lives on in modern AirPods
Doppler Labs shut down in 2017, but its ideas for earbuds continued to influence how people think about the devices.
The company, founded in 2013, made Here One, wireless earbuds designed to do more than play music and handle calls.
Here One could mix streamed audio with sounds around the wearer, and Doppler hoped to make listening easier for people with hearing loss.
It also worked on live translation so people speaking different languages could talk in real time.
Apple’s first AirPods went on sale in December 2016, before Here One reached stores, and were marketed mainly as convenient wireless headphones.
AirPods Pro arrived in 2019, and later AirPods gained features that matched parts of Doppler’s vision, including ambient-sound mixing and real-time translation.
Doppler’s ideas are now reflected in a major Apple product line, though the company itself is gone.
Doppler Labs’ vision for advanced in-ear computing has continued in modern AirPods, according to Fast Company.
Its Here One earbuds were designed to mix streamed audio with ambient sound and support features such as live translation.
Doppler Labs, founded in 2013, ceased operations in 2017.
Apple released the first AirPods in December 2016, before Here One reached stores.
AirPods Pro followed in 2019, and AirPods later gained features that matched parts of Doppler’s vision.
- Who
- Doppler Labs and Apple.
- What
- Doppler’s in-ear computing vision lives on in modern AirPods.
- When
- Doppler was founded in 2013 and ceased operations in 2017. Apple released AirPods in December 2016 and AirPods Pro in 2019.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Doppler aimed to make earbuds do more than play music and handle calls, including improving listening for people with hearing loss and enabling real-time translation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Doppler Labs was founded.
Apple released the first AirPods.
Here One hit stores.
Doppler Labs ceased to exist.
AirPods Pro followed the first AirPods.
- Doppler Labs founded
- 2013
- Doppler Labs ceased operations
- 2017
- First AirPods released
- December 2016
- AirPods Pro followed
- 2019
- AirPods shipped
- 16.8 million units in the second quarter of 2019
What people are saying
a computer for your ears