This Smart Shirt Tracks Heart Health Better Than A Wrist-Based Smartwatch
Worried about your heart health? Scientists from the US have created a shirt that tracks your cardiovascular health. Here's how it works
The need to take care of one's general well-being has hit everyone like a brick since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Tracking one's heart rate and oxygen levels have become part of daily routine for many and technology is catching up with people's fears and demands.
Rice University
The shirt that reads your heart
Researchers from a Texas university in the US have developed a "smart shirt" capable of measuring the heart rate of its users with accuracy. Created by scientists at Rice University, the shirt is equipped with conductive carbon nanotube fibres.
Researchers claim that these fibres are sewn into the cloth and possess ECG capabilities. Continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) refers to the process of recording electric signals from your heart to check for its health and potential conditions.
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The fibres were sewn onto the shirt to function as metal wires needed to get readings on one's heart. Spearheaded by Lauren Taylor, a Rice University student, the shirt has to be snug fitting like a good mask to be able to offer correct readings.
Shirt has room for improvement
In a press release, Taylor revealed that they're still working to improve how the shirt functions.
For this purpose, they intend to use denser patches of carbon nanotube threads to allow more contact with the skin and consequentially more correct readings.
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The study's goals were outlined in the American Chemical Society's Nano Letters journal on August 30.
Also read: Scientists Convert Walking On Wood Floor Into Electricity To Power Lightbulbs
Worried about washing it? Don't, at least that's what the researchers say. It's apparently machine washable, soft and flexible owing to its "zigzag" stitching pattern. To understand if it's working, scientists compared the shirt heart data with results from industry standard strap monitors during experiments.
They found that the results were more accurate with the carbon nanotube shirt!
Do you believe such tech can save lives? Or do you find this over the top? Please let us know in the comments and don't forget to check out all things tech and science on Indiatimes.com.
I live for all-things-technology - gadgets, novel climate solutions, and startups that are changing the game. In my leisurely hours, you can find me binge watching science fiction films, writing poetry, or dancing to pop anthems.
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