Wearable technology can reportedly tell you a lot more than just the number of calories you’re burning or how many steps you’ve walked… That clever smartwatch can actually tell that you’re about to get a cold, days before you start feeling poorly. As New Scientist reports, researchers at Stanford University in California have discovered that wearable tech can now detect when you’re about to fall prey to (感染) a frightening winter bug, simply by tracking your vital statistics.
After monitoring 40 smartwatch users for up to two years, the team has demonstrated that the devices can be used to detect the first signs of coming illness. The participants’ pulse and skin temperature were continuously monitored throughout the period, with the scientists noting that their smartwatches recorded unusually higher heart rates and skin temperatures up to three days before the volunteers began displaying symptoms of cold or flu.
Study leader Michael Snynder said: “Once these wearables collect enough data to know what your normal baseline readings are, they can get very good at sensing when something goes wrong. We think that if your heart rate and skin temperature are elevated for about two hours, there’s a strong chance you’re getting sick.” “Continuous tracking of your vital signs is more informative than having a doctor measure them once a year and comparing them with population averages,” he added.
The team now hopes to create an algorithm (算法) that will let smartwatches notify you when you’re about to get sick. Well, at least that might give us the chance to stock up on vitamins and wrap up warm before the germ attacks!
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