Category: Wearables
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Sensor scarf heats, vibrates, can monitor vital signs
Microsoft‘s SWARM prototype smart scarf, developed with University of Maryland‘s Michele Williams, heats, which could help those with physical or mental disabilities stay warm. It also vibrates. The plan is to incorporates biometric sensors that can cause vibrations when an issue is detected with heart, breathing rate, or skin temperature data. The flexible laser-cut scarf has interchangeable…
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Nanoparticles + wearable to detect cancer cells
ApplySci first described Google X’s cancer detecting nanoparticle project last October. The company has now released more detail: 1. A user wears a bracelet designed by Google. 2. He/she must take nanoparticle pills that look for cancer cells throughout the body. 3. If found, the nanoparticles bind to the cancer cells, and they light up.…
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Sensors, software to understand MS progression
Biogen Idec and Google X will use sensors and software to collect and analyze data from MS patients. The goals is to understand environmental and biological factors that contribute to the disease’s progression, and why it progresses differently in every patient. Andrew Conrad, head of Life Sciences at Google X, believes that this will lead to earlier interventions and better outcomes.…
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Silver nanowire wearable claims greater accuracy
Yong Zhu and North Carolina State colleagues have developed a silver nanowire wearable sensor to monitor EKG and EMG. They claim that the dry sensor is as accurate as wet electrode hospital sensors and works while a wearer is moving. According to Zhu, “the silver nanowire sensors conform to a patient’s skin, creating close contact. Because…
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Ear sensor monitors driver alertness
Fujitsu’s FEELythm is a wearable sensor that tracks pulse to detect drowsiness in drivers. An algorithm monitors vital signs via a sensor attached to the earlobe, gauges drowsiness, and notifies the driver. When used commercially, it notifies the driver’s fleet manager. It can connect to onboard devices and link to fleet management systems for real…
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Noninvasive sensor tattoo detects glucose levels
UC San Diego professor Joseph Wang has developed an ultra-thin, flexible device that sticks to skin like a tattoo and can detect glucose levels. The sensor has the potential to eliminate finger-pricking for diabetes. The wearable, non-irritating sensor tattoo can detect glucose in the fluid just under the skin. It is based on integrating glucose extraction…
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50 Cent’s biometric, battery free earbuds
A fun highlight of CES was rapper 50 Cent‘s demonstration of his new wearable, BioSport In-Ear. Infrared and accelerometer sensor data will be sent to one’s smartphone via the audio jack, and processed by software that monitors heart rate and steps taken. Wearers can play music in accordance with those metrics to help sustain a…
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Physiological and mathematical models simulate body systems
Another CES standout was LifeQ, a company that combines physiological and bio-mathematical modeling to provide health decision data. LifeQ Lens is a multi-wavelength optical sensor that can be integrated into wearable devices. It monitors key metrics, with what the company claims to be laboratory level accuracy, using a proprietary algorithm. Raw data is translated through…
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Wearable relieves pain while active or sleeping
Quell by NeuroMetrix is one of the more impressive wearables we discovered at CES. It is a non-invasive neurostimulation technology (TENS) intended to provide chronic pain relief. Its developers list diabetes, sciatica, fibromyalgia, and knee osteoarthritis as conditions causing pain that can be relieved by the device. Quell is worn beneath the knee, irrespective of…
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Wearables, sensables, and opportunities at CES
It was the year of Digital Health and Wearable Tech at CES. Endless watches tracked vital signs (and many athletes exercised tirelessly to prove the point). New were several ear based fitness monitors (Brag), and some interesting TENS pain relief wearables (Quell). Many companies provided monitoring for senior citizens, and the most interesting only…
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Smart earring monitors heart rate, calories, activity
Ear-o-smart is a crowdfunded smart earring that monitors heart rate, calories, and activity level. Its sensor is combined with a changeable earring. Its app, via voice instruction, tells wearers to speed up or slow down based on heart rate data. The tiny wearable was created by minimizing PPG Technology and Bluetooth data transfer. PPG…
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Multiple measurements, including blood pressure, from shirt sensor insert
Nike was recently awarded a patent for a skin-touching sensor system that can be inserted into a shirt. It can measure heart rate, blood pressure, hydration, and skin temperature, and transmit the data over radio frequencies, Bluetooth and WiFi. If it works, the ability measure blood pressure from shirt sensors, combined with other vital signs, is…