Siemens has started some research for a project called “Smart Senior – Intelligent Services for Seniors” that includes work with sensors attached to the body to measure movement, heart rate, and blood-oxygen levels. Equipment in a home sends the data to a medical center, which immediately sends emergency-service people to the affected person. Siemens expects to have prototypes in mid-2011. Germany’s Research Ministry has funded the investigations. No wonder. Already 26 percent of the people in Germany are over 60 years old. In 25 years, almost a third of Germany’s people will be older than 60.
According to Siemens, the project researchers have work underway on a wrist-watch-like device that measures pulse rate, blood pressure and even acceleration. When someone faints the device can recognize the absence of micro-movements characteristic of sleep. “A radio chip in the wrist device sends all data to a communication node, which forwards the information over the Internet to a medical center. A special security architecture ensures that the data is protected along the entire transmission path, and access to the information is also stringently controlled.”
Texas Instruments already has an eZ-430 Chronos wrist-device that can measure acceleration in three dimensions as well as heart rate (with an external wireless sensor), altitude, and temperature. The Chronos device uses a TI CC430F6137 RF system on a chip and it includes a wireless transceiver so it can act like a “hub” for other wireless sensors. One of the TI demo applications for the eZ430 Chronos lets it communicate with a remote wireless USB transceiver (supplied) to control a program such as PowerPoint, so the wearer can change slides without a mouse or “clicker.” (No Spiderman net, though.)
So the eZ430-Chronos provides a ready-made “breadboard” for devices that could help older people as well as those with a disability. You can program the Chronos device with your own code. The Chronos package costs $US 49 and it comes in three versions for different wireless bands. For more information, visit: http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/ez430-chronos.html. Of course, TI also provides all the source code for the MSP430 MCU, the Windows application (to display data), development software, and documentation. Maybe you can get a head start on a new product. –Jon Titus
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Labs have observed a reaction in lithium-air batteries that could help improve the design of these cells for electric vehicles and other applications.
Healthcare might seem to be an unlikely target application for the Internet of Things technology, but recent developments show small ways that big-data is going to make an impact on patient care moving into the future.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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