New Delhi: when Rithwik Jayasimha24 years old, discovered that AppleThe new AirPods Pro 2 included a headphone feature and he excitedly bought a pair for his grandmother. However, his excitement quickly turned to frustration when he realized that the feature was blocked in India. Despite being approved in over 100 countries following clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration in September, the feature remains unavailable in India, according to a TOI report.
Determined to find a solution, Jayasimha teamed up with his friends, Arnav Bansal and Rithwik Ribhu, to unlock the feature. “When I tried to set it up, I realized that the feature was blocked in India. I spent the rest of the day trying to figure out how to enable it, but I kept coming to a dead end,” Jayasimha said.
Creative solution developed in Bengaluru laboratory
The trio began their efforts in a small laboratory in Bengaluru’s Koramangala neighborhood, exploring ways to circumvent location restrictions. Recognizing that AirPods detect location using Wi-Fi network data instead of GPS, they devised a method to spoof the device’s location.
Using basic materials such as aluminum foil, copper mesh, a microwave, and an ESP 32 chip, they built a Faraday Cage. This device, inspired by 19th century scientist Michael Faraday, blocks electromagnetic fields. Taking advantage of a Wi-Fi location database, they managed to trick the AirPods into thinking they were in San Francisco, successfully enabling the earbud feature.
Impact on accessibility for older people
The innovation brought significant relief to their families. “My grandmother’s old hearing aid was very expensive and yet very clumsy. She is a Parkinson’s disease patient and found it very difficult to operate,” Bansal said. AirPods provided advanced features such as customizable equalizer settings and conversation awareness, simplifying the process for your grandmothers.
Jayasimha added: “With these AirPods, I just sat there with the equalizer settings and made the sound louder, softer and brighter. It’s also smarter and has a ton of features that you just won’t find in headphones.”
Growing interest in the solution
After sharing their project online, the team received a lot of interest from people facing similar challenges. They have helped more than 30 people enable the feature and are now considering expanding their informal lab, called ‘Lagrange Point’.
While they have not been contacted by Apple, the group remains hopeful that the hearing aid feature will gain regulatory approval in India.
Future plans
Beyond their current project, the trio continues to work on innovative solutions to address social issues. These include developing water-cooled suits for delivery staff during heat waves and creating adaptive clothing for Parkinson’s patients. Their next goal is to design devices to detect microplastics in water and food, with the aim of addressing broader health and environmental challenges.
By turning an obstacle into an opportunity, these young innovators have demonstrated how technology can close accessibility gaps and improve lives.
