Tracking your health with technology has become a big part of many people's lives nowadays. Smartwatches now can measure heart rate, but what if, instead of a bulky smartwatch, you can just wear your earbuds and still get your heart rate regularly measured? Well, Android Headlines reports that Google is looking into ways to make any active noise-canceling (ANC) earbuds into heart rate trackers via a software update.
Google researches ways to use AND earbuds to track heart rate
The company has been digging into audioplethysmography (APG) technology. It should use low-intensity ultrasound signals emitted by the speakers of the earbuds. The onboard ANC mics should be able to capture those, and this way the earbuds should be able to detect subtle changes in the skin and heartbeat (in the vessels in the ear canal).
This tech should work across various ear sizes, ear seals, different skin tones, and even during music playback.
Google did stumble across some challenges with this tech though. The challenge particularly comes in noisy environments - but Google seems to have managed to come up with the most accurate signal.
Google tested 153 people so far and the research yielded promising results. In fact, the tech had a median error of 3.21% for heart rate and 2.70% for heart rate variability measurements across various scenarios.
As exciting as this sounds, keep in mind that the research is still in its early stages. So far, it is unclear whether Google even plans to use the APG technology in consumer products.
Follow us on social media to catch the latest trending stories, watch exclusive videos, and join the conversation with our vibrant community!
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: