(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
BERLIN—The Bebird representative at IFA’s press showcase wouldn’t let me stick their device in my ear. It wouldn’t be sanitary at an event like that, which was fair, but given that’s what the EarVision Complete is used for, I was disappointed.
Bebird officially launched the EarVision Complete alongside the EarVision Pro at Berlin’s tech event, after rolling it out slowly over the past couple of weeks. According to Bebird, the two health devices are the world’s first over-the-counter ear cleaners with a camera, though Bebird itself already has a few models on its site that launched earlier this year. Regardless, it was the first I’d heard of it, and I got a chance to see it in action at IFA.
Basically Q-tips with a camera, you stick the device into your ear and can then see a live feed from the camera on the probe via a companion app. You can use the visuals to thoroughly clean your ear or precisely place a dose of ear medicine.
(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)Indeed, the EarVision Complete comes with a variety of accessories meant to perform different functions. Drop off meds, scrape dirt, scoop gunk, or even pinch some particularly large debris. The EarVision Pro distinguishes itself with even finer controls and a more precise gyroscope, though it ships with less accessories.
While getting a close up of your inner ear might sound gross, that’s more or less the point. I found it fascinating from the start as a lover of horror movies, but I imagine that over time with regular use, the view gets less and less cruddy and you might even start to hear better.
(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)Since I wasn’t able to put one in my ear directly, I had to view the pre-captured footage. I was also able to move the camera around the table and point it at different, non-bodily objects. I found the corresponding image on the app responsive and clear, though the tight angle caused me to get confused a few times.
Given the products are now officially announced, look for pricing and release date information on both the Bebird EarVision Complete and EarVision Pro soon. I look forward to trying it out in my own home to see if it can provide a reasonable amount of inner-ear cleanliness and actually help my hearing.