Windows 11: hearing aids soon to be supported by Microsoft’s system?

In a bid to make its operating system accessible to as many people as possible, Microsoft will soon incorporate new options into Windows 11.

While Windows 10 will soon no longer be supported by Microsoft, Windows 11 will soon find a successor. If Windows 12 will perhaps take its first steps next year, the Redmond firm does not intend to abandon its current operating system.

The American giant took advantage of the latest preview version, reserved for members of the Windows Insider program, to test a brand new feature: support for hearing aids in Windows 11.

Windows 11: an increasingly accessible OS?

One thing leading to another, the latest version of Windows tends to become more accessible to users. Last September, on the occasion of the publication of the 22H2 update, Microsoft took the opportunity to deliver a whole bunch of features placed under the sign of accessibility by improving the options and navigation within Windows 11.

We can also cite the addition of new Braille displays within the Narrator application, or the incorporation of new scrolling controls for people controlling their PC using their voice.

But it looks like Microsoft isn’t done with accessibility options yet. As proof, the firm has just confirmed support for hearing aids in Windows 11 for devices supporting Bluetooth Low Energy Audio technology (more commonly known as LE Audio).

Hearing aids will soon be able to pair with your PC in Windows 11

If you’ve never heard of Bluetooth Low Energy Audio before, just remember that it’s a new standard aimed at delivering high-quality sound at low consumption. According to Microsoft, “ Customers using these new hearing aids can now directly pair, stream audio and take calls on their Windows PCs with support for LE Audio “.

As you will have understood, hearing aids supporting Bluetooth LE Audio can now be paired with a Windows PC and take, for example, calls. Currently, the feature is only accessible from version 25977 of Windows 11 Insider Preview. Still in the testing phase, we do not know when it will be accessible to the greatest number of people.

Now we just have to hope that Microsoft doesn’t roll back its accessibility efforts once Windows 12 is rolled out. At its launch, Windows 11 had unfortunately been cut from many key functions present in Windows 10, which also contributed to making it an OS not very popular with users…

Source : The Verge