Mobile heart monitoring devices have tended to suffer from inaccuracies due to the nature of being, well, mobile; they've always had trouble dealing with inputs such as high-level noises and abrupt movements. The electrocardiogram, or ECG, necklace unveiled by Belgium-based IMEC at the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference in Minneapolis Wednesday boasts long-term monitoring of cardiac performance with astonishing accuracy.
IMEC's mobile heart monitor uses a low-power amplifier and 2.4 GHz network.
(Credit: IMEC)The necklace contains IMEC's proprietary "ultra-low power analog readout ASIC" (application-specific integrated circuit), relying on a low-power commercial radio/microprocessor platform. A heartbeat detection algorithm is embedded in that processor, and a second ultra-low power microcontroller transmits data wirelessly from the necklace to a computer within 10 miles. (If the computer is not within range, a memory module stores this data until it can be transmitted.)
IMEC, which partnered with the Netherlands-based Holst Centre to develop this ECG prototype, says the algorithm copes with baseline wander, electromyography (electrical impulses of muscles), movement, and sound. It achieved "best-in-class" performances, with 99.8 percent sensitivity and 99.7 percent predictivity.
While the ECG necklace could be used for the permanent screening of the elderly, and of people with cardiovascular disorders, healthy athletes might also find the data useful in measuring and analyzing their own hearts under the duress of extreme sport.
I can't help but pay homage to my former colleague and lunchtime running partner Bill Goggins at Wired magazine, who may have benefited greatly from this kind of technology. Just moments after waving jovially for cameras in the San Francisco marathon in 2006, the 43-year-old former deputy editor collapsed at mile 24 and died of apparent heart failure.
Development and further study of this prototype might finally answer the pressing question: could a mobile heart monitor actually save lives?
We couldn't get enough of the Bonch on our 404th episode, so we invite her on today to hang out out with us and chat about the death of Saturday mail, Amy Winehouse, "District 9," and "Paper Heart." And stay tuned till the end for Bonnie's very special announcement! You heard it on The 404 first!
(Credit:
Bonnie Cha)
The CNET offices in New York just got a little more exciting, because Bonnie Cha is in The 404 studio to brighten up an otherwise sobering Monday morning! She's only here for one more day, but make sure you listen to the end of the show, because she has a very important announcement!
Our rundowneth overfloweth today with quick little news bytes. The first one is about the U.S. Post Office no longer delivering mail on Saturdays! Calm down, the proposition is still in the infancy stage, but we're wondering if this is a real concern for anyone, or if this could just be another point on the board for THE INTERNET. Nevertheless, we're still going to miss our friendly neighborhood mailpeople who face dogs, weather, fatigue, and a million other things to bring us our daily book of ValuePak coupons.
Next up is a little rumor we've heard from TechRadar about Sony releasing an emotion sensor at tomorrow's GamesCon media conference. We're not sure if this technology will ever actually materialize, but we do know Sony has already patented plans for a gaming console that can be controlled by touch, movement, and even emotions including laughter, boredom, sadness, excitement, and anger. Personally, I can do without a box reading my emotions and affecting my gameplay, but what do you think? Could you get into something like that?
We also talk about "District 9" cleaning up the weekend box office, cocaine content of U.S. currency, and watch as Amy Winehouse has a complete mental breakdown, all on today's snapshot episode!
EPISODE 405
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Sony Ericsson C901
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)Sony Ericsson did more than just announce its new "GreenHeart" strategy Thursday, the company also unveiled two new Earth-friendly cell phones. According to Sony Ericsson, the Naite and the C901 Cyber-shot will help it reach its goal of a 20 percent carbon footprint reduction by 2015. The handsets offer such features as recycled plastic, low-power chargers, and waterborne paints. Also, by including electronic, rather than paper user manuals, Sony Ericsson said it can reduce packaging size. The company promises that the overall carbon footprint of each phone will be reduced by 15 percent.
Both the Naite and the C901 have standard candy bar designs with trim profiles. The 262,144-color displays looked sharp during my brief hands-on, and I didn't notice any immediate problems with their navigation controls and keypad buttons. That's a good sign considering Sony Ericsson doesn't have the best track record when designing user controls. On the downside, while the recent Sony Ericsson W995a has a 3.5mm headset jack, the Naite and C901 have proprietary jacks.
The C901's sliding lens cover.
(Credit: Kent German/CNET)The C901 and Naite are quad-band GSM world phones, but the C901 only supports 3G networks outside of North America. The Naite, which comes in red and silver designs, should be out by the third quarter of 2009. The C901, which will be available only in white, should go on sale during the second quarter of this year.
Features on both phones are mid-range, but are more plentiful than Motorola's Renew W233 recycled phone. As a Cyber-shot phone, the C901 centers on its camera. The 5-megapixel shooter captures still photos and video and it includes such options as auto-focus, photo geo-tagging, and a Xenon flash with red-eye reduction. The camera lens on the phone's rear side has a sliding cover.
Sony Ericsson Naite
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)The C901 also promises a music player, stereo Bluetooth, a speakerphone, messaging and POP3 e-mail, instant messaging, USB mass storage, motion gaming, PC syncing, an FM radio, a wireless Web browser, and a personal organizer. And back on the green front, you can use the C901's navigation toggle to adjust the display's brightness level and save battery life. Having those controls on the toggle saves you from digging through a menu.
The Naite has a 2-megapixel camera and camcorder, a music player, a wireless Web browser, a speakerphone, messaging and POP3 e-mail, instant messaging, an FM radio, stereo Bluetooth, Google Maps, USB Mass storage, PC syncing, and a personal organizer. Like the C901 the Naite has a special Walkmate pedometer, which also tells you how much carbon emissions your steps are saving
Tripping the light fantastic.
(Credit: Banpresto)I'm definitely way past the age for childhood toys, though some people still haven't outgrown that. I believe the politically correct phrase for them is "young at heart." However, Japanese retailer Banpresto has taken the zoetrope (remember the spinning drum with slits that make the static images inside appear to move like a flip book?), and given it a modern spin, so to speak.
Its Twinklepict has figures inside, backlit by a flashing internal light. As the characters in the dome spin, their shadowy forms project out in a pretty light show. This works on three AAA batteries and comes with a 60-minute timer. There's a choice of yellow, white, and blue.
The Banpresto site states June 25 as the official rollout date for Japan, retailing at 3,150 yen ($32.60), though you can apparently preorder it here if you're planning to get one for your little tyke. But who are you kidding?
You can choose from blue, white, or yellow.
(Credit: Banpresto)(Source: Crave Asia)
(Credit:
Finis)
Finally, gadget-seeking swimmers are getting equal treatment to sportsmen who enjoy dry, electronic-friendly conditions. California-based Finis is out with the Aqua Pulse, a waterproof heart monitor that relies on bone conduction technology to communicate high-fidelity sound via the temple bone to the inner ear.
Monitoring your heart rate is supposed to be the most effective way to train, as you can measure intensity and exertion levels and avoid over-training and under-training. But so far, heart rate monitors have generally been made for wearing on the wrist, connected to a skin sensor normally attached around the chest--a setup that's not really ideal for swimmers.
(Credit:
Finis)
Proposing another of its swimmer-friendly design is Finis, founded by Olympic gold medal swimmer Pablo Morales in 1993. The company has developed products such as snorkels, swimwear, and a series of waterproof MP3 players.
The small Aqua Pulse clips onto the goggle strap and has an integrated infrared sensor that detects the heart rate by measuring light pulses due to capillary blood flow in the skin. An internal computer calculates the heart rate and communicates it audibly at preset intervals (from 20 seconds up to 5 minutes) talking through the bone.
The idea is that by having this information as they move, swimmers can train in their proper "heart-rate zone" more accurately.
Humans normally hear through air conduction, but because there's no air underneath the water, bone conduction provides the clearest sound quality possible, Finis says.
The Aqua Pulse will sell for $139.99 through the Finis Web site in May.
What used to be romantic tends to be seen as just plain creepy these days. And quite possibly somewhat stalker-ish too. So of course, we do what we always do when it comes to gadgets and accessories that have the potential of abuse...we mock them endlessly.
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EPISODE 124 |
Wii Fit for Valentine’s Day: It’s ok. Really.
10 Valentine’s Day gifts to get you dumped
Valentine’s Day gifts for the geeky girl
USB Plasma Heart spectacularly displays your love
Nokia Cupid - the anonymous way to say “I want you”
Blow a Valentine’s kiss with your iPhone
... Read more
(Credit:
iTMP)
Looks like that iPhone or iPod Touch you bring to the gym can do more for your fitness than just make your workout more pleasurable.
iTMP Technology, an iPhone hardware and software developer, announced Friday its launch of SmHeart Link, a new device developed to bring health and fitness tracking capabilities to iPhone and iPod Touch users.
Basically, SmHeart Link is a wireless bridge that collects data from distributed health and fitness sensors such as those found in workout machines and sends it to the iPhone via Wi-Fi. Users then can make use of the data via an iPhone application called iRPM+
The SmHeart Link works with a long list of heart monitor chest straps, including those found in equipments made by Polar, Garmin, Nike, Reebok, Timex Ironman, New Balance, and Numetrex. It's also compatible with biking sensors to track speed, cadence, and power (watts).
While this sounds redundant as most workout machines already have displays that show you this information during a workout, the iRPM+ app allows for uploading your completed workouts to eNewLeaf or MapMyFitness to track your training progress.
The application is now available at the App Store for free. The SmHeart Link device, however, costs $155.
The RS800cx monitors your heart while you do dishes.
(Credit: Polar)If you're a hard-core runner, it's a good idea to have the right tools at your disposal to maximize your training. In anticipation of the New York City Marathon Sunday, Polar a maker of portable fitness electronics, is now selling the RS800CX heart rate monitor. This is an updated version of the RS800G3 we covered last year.
The three major new features include:
- GPS mapping: Routes are color-coded for "heart rate zones," and can be viewed on Google Earth with Polar's ProTrainer 5 Software
- Compatibility with Polar's speed and cadence cycling sensors
- Ability to combine multisport workouts into one training file
Admittedly, most of this stuff is overkill for someone like me who doesn't take fitness quite that seriously. I am interested in Polar's FT60 and FT80 though.
It doesn't do as much, but most of us don't need that much. I especially like how it tells you the optimal amount of time to rest between sets. As my life stands now, I wouldn't cough up money for these though. The RS800cx is available starting at $500. The FT60 and FT80 can be found for $240 and $350 respectively.
Check out the movie of the FT60and FT80 below (try to ignore the fitness people's banter though).
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EPISODE 110 |
iPhone heart monitor by John Ballinger
What the hell?
Share secrets with interactive plant from Sega
Fug
Ladybud earrings
Gender Gap
2009 Dodge Ram
Pink Watch
Third space-gaming vest now in pink for the ladies
Tool Time (Golf crap edition!)
Bulletproof polos make golf course assassinations a thing of the past
Hello Kitty Watch (Thanks, SuperGenius!)
Hello Kitty USB Webcam sees all
The heart still beats...
This week Dong visits the "Church of All Faiths" and uncovers the "Church of False Advertising."
Eric nerds it up about the WoW: Lich King beta, which is awesome of course. Seriously, how is Blizzard going to keep everyone from re-rolling as a Death Knight? We guess that just means the other classes are due for some serious buffs. We hope so at least.
Last, but not least, Dong explains the proper ways to eat a still-beating heart..not kidding.
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Episode 10 |
This week's blooper is a lot funnier if you're familiar with the source.
