Google plans to add a heart rate monitoring function to ANC (active noise cancellation) headphones, which will measure heart rate through ultrasound. This study explores a new approach using ultrasound technology within earbuds to enable heart rate monitoring without the need for additional sensors. The method works by transmitting low-intensity ultrasound signals from the ear canal and then using microphones inside the earbuds to detect disturbances in blood pumping across the surface of the skin. The study found that the technology achieved good measurement capabilities under different conditions, including those with loose earplugs, different ear canal sizes, or darker skin tones.
The discovery could make wireless headphones a handy tool for heart rate monitoring, especially for people who don’t like wearing smartwatches. However, this technology still has some problems in noisy environments and needs further improvement, such as improving accuracy by using multiple frequencies. The technology also needs regulatory approval before it can be put into commercial use.
(Source: nghenhinvietnam Image source: freepik)
