With Apple now offering AirPods Max, over-the-ear headphones, a new Microsoft patent reveals that their working on a new kind of headphones that are close in concept to the neckband Speaker from Sony branded the Bravia Theatre U as presented below.

Microsoft's patent filing 20240276170 is titled "Environmental Condition based Spatial Audio Presentation." The patent relates to a wearable spatial audio device.  The wearable spatial audio device includes one or more audio speakers, one or more processors, and a storage machine holding instructions executable by the one or more processors. Map data is obtained for a real-world environment that includes one or more dynamic audio objects. A device-specific subset of audio tracks is obtained, and a device-specific spatialized audio mix of the device-specific subset of audio tracks that is based on the map data is obtained. An indication of a change in an environmental condition relative to one or more of the dynamic audio objects is received. The device-specific spatialized audio mix is adjusted based on the change in the environmental condition.

Microsoft's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates a schematic depiction of an example use environment for a spatialized audio system with devices #116 and #118 below being  Wearable spatial audio output devices 116 and 118 are depicted having a neck-worn form.

Microsoft notes that users may prefer to receive different audio tracks altogether. For example, two users each may desire to watch a movie in their own native language.

Further, in some examples, different sounds within a device-specific spatialized audio mix may be emphasized depending upon a location at which a user is gazing on a single display showing a single screen of content to highlight sounds associated with the object displayed at that location on the screen. For example, if a user is watching concert footage, a volume of drums in the mix may be increased if the user is gazing at a drummer displayed on the display.

If you're interested in this possible future Microsoft device, then check out patent 20240276170 for many other features including that this new device will also work with Microsoft's gaming platforms. The new device will also work with TV's, notebooks, tablets, HMDs, desktops and more.

Side Note: Our cover graphic is to convey what Microsoft is working on. To do that, we presented an image from Sony's Neckband speaker branded "BRAVIA Theatre U."