Wristwatch Sensors to Monitor Health of Elderly

Japanese Telecom Company, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone has unveiled a wristwatch sensor to monitor the health of the senior citizens in the country.

The device can be worn around the wrist and comprises an in-built camera, microphone, and an accelerometer that together assess the heartbeat and gestures to determine each activity of the wearer.

The data collected is displayed on a central computer network in graphics with a set pattern for each activity.  The data can alternatively be stored on a memory chip for later assessment. The Institute on Aging at the University of Virginia in the US has also been researching on potential body area sensor networks to help authorities monitor the elderly in an endeavor to enhance the quality of healthcare facilities. Care is being taken to see that the sensing devices are small enough to be unseen by other people, providing the wearer with comfort and privacy.

Source: http://www.ntt.co.jp/