Smart earrings that can monitor body temperature
Researchers from the University of Washington have developed a thermal earring, a new wireless device that can be worn to continuously monitor the user’s earlobe temperature, showing promising results for various applications such as stress monitoring and fever detection.
Key features of the smart earring include its small size, resembling a paper clip, and a battery life of up to 28 days.
The device uses a magnetic clip to connect the temperature sensor to the wearer’s earlobe, while another sensor estimates room temperature, which can be customized with fashion designs made of resin or gemstones without affecting accuracy.
The study, published in the “Interactive, Mobile, Wearable Technologies” journal, demonstrates the superior performance of the earring in sensing skin temperature compared to smartwatches, especially during resting periods. It also highlights potential applications in fever monitoring, where the earring detected significant increases in the temperature of feverish patients compared to healthy individuals.
Additionally, the earring showed promising results in detecting changes in temperature associated with food intake, exercise, and exposure to stress.
While the results are preliminary, researchers envision future iterations of the device integrating heart rate monitoring and activity tracking, with the possibility of being powered by solar or kinetic energy.
Overall, the thermal earring represents an innovative approach to wearable technology, offering unique potential for health monitoring. Further research and testing are needed to improve its applications and ensure its effectiveness before widespread use.
