Cupertino patents dynamic audio system for the Mac

Sep 5, 2017 12:28 GMT  ·  By
The patent suggests users would be able to select the person that needs an enhanced audio connection
   The patent suggests users would be able to select the person that needs an enhanced audio connection

While all eyes are on the iPhone 8 right now, Apple is also developing new technology for its other devices, including the Mac, which could at some point in the future become capable of automatically adjusting the audio level when users walk away from the computer.

While this sounds useless at first, there are two major scenarios when dynamic audio could prove to be helpful, including one that has the music automatically adjusted as you move across the room for uncompromised listening experience.

Furthermore, Apple describes in the patent application that this could be helpful during a video call with one or more people, making it possible for the user to select a specific person and enhance the audio connection. This basically reduces video call issues when the audio connection of one particular user is impacted by various factors, such as reduced volume due to the distance from the computer.

Still a patent for the time being

Here’s the abstract section of the patent, which includes more information as to how the technology is supposed to work:

“A system for enhancing audio including a computer and an output device. The computer includes a sensor configured to determine a user location relative to the computer. The sensor is also configured to gather environment data corresponding to an environment of the computer.

The computer also includes a processor in communication with the sensor and configured to process the user location and the environment data and adjust at least one of an audio output or a video output. The output device is in communication with the processor and is configured to output at least one of the audio output or the video output.”

As with every other patent, there is no guarantee that Apple brings this to production, but since the company has already considered such a technology, it would make sense to see it going live on a future Mac model.