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MEMSwear Fall Fashion - Bluetooth-enabled Motion Detection Shirt
In his 1988 science fiction novel Wetware, computer science professor Rudy Rucker wrote about a heartshirt that could detect the heartbeat of the wearer, and actually display it on the shirt.
Associate Professor Francis Tay of the National University of Singapore's mechanical engineering department and his research group have created a shirt with an integrated 2 centimeter square device that detects the speed and tilt of the wearer. When the person wearing the shirt falls, it triggers the built-in transmitter attached to the bottom of the shirt. Via Bluetooth, the information is sent wirelessly to a home base transmitter, where it can be sent to relatives or other caregivers.
(From Life-saving shirt)
And yes, he calls it "MEMSwear", because the smart shirt depends on Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In a recent test with 40 volunteers, every fall was detected and transmitted perfectly. This technology will be needed in the near future in Singapore; in twenty-five years, one person in five will be over the age of 65. The shirt will soon be able to predict falls, not just report them.
Finally, Dr. Tay is also working on models that will monitor heartbeat and other vital signs - just like the Heartshirt.
Thanks to makemoneynotart for this story.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 10/12/2004)
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