Devices keep finger on wearer's pulse, location
Published: 05 Dec 2001 07:30 GMT
It sees you when you're sleeping and when you're awake -- and it can keep track of your heart rate, body temperature and geographic location.
No word yet on whether that means it knows if you've been bad or good.
Applied Digital Solutions is launching a new line of products under the "Digital Angel" name that allow the monitoring of a person's whereabouts and vital statistics. The company began testing the devices last month and is launching a national campaign in southern Florida. The devices will cost around $299 each, with monthly services fees of between $30 to $40, according to the company.
The Digital Angel products combine biosensors -- to track data such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels and body temperature -- with a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker. They're available in watch and pager designs.
Although the devices may evoke images of George Orwell's Big Brother, the company says the products could be used to keep track of pets, small children or adults with health concerns such as Alzheimer's disease.
The Digital Angel devices also include alert buttons that can summon caregivers and emergency personnel. One of the devices aimed at the senior market includes a "sudden fall sensor," which uses inertial data to monitor whether someone has fallen down.
Future products will be able to monitor blood chemistry, blood pressure and other indicators of health, the company said.
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