All modern smartphones come with a number of different sensors that can detect the ambient light, proximity, location and direction. But as we’ve been hearing, that’s just a start with many other sensors coming in the (near) future.
Japanese OKI recently developed a special human-detecting sensor technology that can distinguish between large movements like person walking about a room to minute movements such as breathing.
Relying on microwave sensors, OKI’s tech allows the configuration of discreet, nonintrusive systems, reducing discomfort in privacy-sensitive locations. What’s more, sensors can detect motion through furniture or bedding and are unaffected by ambient temperature fluctuations, allowing use even in bathrooms. In that sense, the technology is expected to be ideal for monitoring patients in homes or hospitals, as well as security areas.
However, we can easily imagine something like this built inside some future phone or perhaps a dedicated device that can communicate with smartphone to process and share the information with relevant parties. Talk about the prospects of mHealth…
[Via: FarEastGizmos]