Apple's emotional holiday ad showing AirPods doubling as a hearing aid has us reaching for the tissues

For individuals with disabilities, living with the feeling of being left out can be challenging. They constantly crave inclusion in their social circles, with the expectation of receiving the same love and affection always on their minds. While there is no permanent fix to this societal problem, this gap can potentially be bridged with the inception of cutting-edge technology. Attempting to address this, Apple has launched its new AirPods Pro 2 with in-house technology to assist sufferers of minimal hearing impairment. The iPhone maker recently unveiled an emotional ad campaign on its official YouTube channel that is resonating well with millions across the globe.

In a widely circulating video, a teen girl can be seen opening a gift from her parents on the occasion of Christmas. As she tears into the wrapping, it shows that the music enthusiast is gifted an instrument she likes the most i.e., a guitar. While the mom sitting next to her seems elated with her daughter’s warm reaction, the dad, on the other side, feels deeply disconnected, overwhelmed by his sense of helplessness. Following this, the sound and background noise muffles, portraying the father’s detachment as he drifts into a flashback.

Furthermore, he tries to recollect some old memories of her daughter’s Christmas presents, but the muffled audio keeps on playing. Clearly, the promotion video establishes the man is suffering from hearing loss. His wife taps on his shoulder to bring him back from the past. The wife insists that her husband listen to their daughter’s singing and playing the guitar. The sad dad, who was having a cup of coffee, kept it aside to plug in the newly launched AirPods Pro 2 earbuds.

To increase the assisted hearing volume, he uses the iPhone's hearing aid volume slider, which replaces the muffled audio with a clear one, ensuring he hears better. The nearly two-minute commercial ended on a happy note with the dad being able to hear clearly not just his daughter’s song, but also her voice from the frequent flashbacks. Emphasizing sound shaping the way we connect with the world around us, the company informed through the caption: “People with hearing loss wait an average of 10 years before getting their hearing tested and fitted for hearing aids.”

Apple claims that the lack of knowledge among the masses about hearing loss leaves millions unaware that they're living "without the assistance needed." Meanwhile, the advertisement managed to strike a chord with many on the internet, receiving 14.2 million views and countless reactions. According to Tech Radar, the company’s Hearing Aid technology is meant for mild-to-moderate hearing loss, not for conditions requiring a doctor-prescribed aid.

While the debate over the extent of technology's interference in human life continues, for some, it is the best thing that could happen to them. An example of this is a "transformative" smart gadget that was created to assist hearing-impaired individuals. Writer and director, Chrissy Marshall's heartwarming reaction after trying the live caption reading glasses for the first time left millions of viewers in awe. "These glasses can live-caption sounds," said Marshall, who describes herself as a "deaf cyborg." The content creator was impressed by the gadget as it provided her with a smooth movie experience.