Google recently announced that it is introducing a new Sound Notifications feature for Android users. With this implementation, users will be alerted with push notifications from their device when the system detects any critical sounds happening around their household surroundings.
The feature is said to have been mainly designed for people who are diagnosed with hearing loss. Having said that, Android users will be receiving these notifications in the form of push notifications, a flash powered by the camera light, or vibrations from their device when such instances are detected.
To begin accessing the Sound Notifications feature, users will be required to go into their device Settings, select the Accessibility menu and enable Sound Notifications. If the option is not available on your device, you can have access to this feature via Google’s Live Transcribe app which is available on Play Store.
With machine learning technology, this feature will also work in offline mode and is capable of recognising 10 different audio cues ranging from baby sounds, running, and the household sounds mentioned earlier. Additionally, if the user owns a Google Wear OS smartwatch, they will be able to receive these notifications on this device as well.
The Sound Notifications feature comes equipped with a Timeline view which allow users to scroll through snapshots of the detected sounds for the last few hours. The feature provides more in-depth information such as when and how long the particular sound has occurred, so users will be able to remain vigilant on its importance.
This new accessibility feature is currently being rolled out on Android and Wear OS devices. So, do keep a lookout for this update when it reaches your device soon.
(Source: Google Blog)
