This connected watch prevents sunstroke

This connected watch prevents sunstroke

MIT researchers have developed a connected watch that warns of the risk of hyperthermia. It is intended to avoid the many heat strokes of effort and sunstroke among the new recruits of the American army.

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A U.S. Army report released last year reported more than 2,000 illnesses due to hyperthermia in 2020. Almost a quarter were sunstrokeand the others shots heat effort. This especially concerns young or inexperienced recruits. Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are trying to solve this problem with a connected watch.

The device is connected via Bluetooth to an armband which measures the cardiac frequency. From this, an algorithm estimates the body temperature continuously in order to detect when a recruit is at risk of feeling unwell. This risk is then displayed simply on the screen in the form of a green, yellow or red icon, the latter signifying that the wearer must immediately take a break.

An algorithm that has already proven itself

The algorithm used was developed by the US government in 2013 and integrated into different equipment. However, this is the first time it has been used in a device as small as a connected watch. The researchers tested 170 prototypes in the field, which were favorably received.

Their current model is calibrated for new recruits who are not yet used to military training. The researchers plan to add a setting so that everyone can adjust the temperature limits according to their own abilities physical. In order to reduce production costs and limit the weight, the researchers used consumer equipment for a cost price of less than 500 dollars, and hope to be able to offer it to humanitarian organizations which also report many discomforts due to hyperthermia. .

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