Advantages of the Heart Rate Monitor - Assignment Example

The advancement of technology has been making life easier every day. For instance, communication is easy among people in different parts ofthe world, travelling is improved by via air, road and water, and several systems in industries and at homes have been automated. Similarly, we can use the available technologies to reduce road accidents caused due to a condition such as a heart attack, the sleeping of a driver when he or she is driving or the loss of life that could occur when a child falls ill and the guardian fails to notice. Drivers are likely to sleep off after being on the road for long distances or for other reasons such as feeling unwell and being drunk. In the event of such a scenario, the driver will not be in control of the vehicle and hence the increase in the chances of causing an accident. However, with the appropriate use of technology, such a driver can be alerted that he is dosing off. As a result, the chances of such a driver causing an accident are reduced drastically. A steering wheel with heart rate sensors and its display on the vehicle’s dash board In other cases, a driver could suffer from a heart attack. Consequently, the driver is likely to cause an accident or even just get incapacitated by the condition to a point of not being able to call for medical attention. Therefore, with the help of a correct system, when such a condition occurs the system can automatically call for medical assistance on behalf of the driver. In addition, the system can be made intelligent enough to control the vehicle. An image of a car seat with sensors Lastly, sometimes a parent may fail to realise that his or her child is feeling unwell during a drive. This way, the child’s condition is likely to get worse as the parent concentrates on driving. In order to avoid such an occurrence, an intelligent system could be used to alert such a parent of a child’s ailing condition. A child’s seat belt in a vehicle This document provides detailed ways of implementing these life saving systems. Introduction Many people are good drivers and will rarely cause an accident on a normal day. In addition, an adult is able to contact appropriate medics when feeling unwell or when his child is feeling unwell. However, when someone gets tipsy due to sleep, he or she is unable to drive comfortably. This results in injuries, loss of life, and damage of property or all of these. On the other hand, an adult is not able to contact a doctor when he suffers a condition such as a heart attack. Moreover, a child can get seriously ill if the guardian is not able to realise that the child is ailing. This document provides at simple ways of solving these challenges. A list of the equipment required for the implementation of these systems. In addition, this document analyses some of the possible problems, which can be encountered during the implementation of these systems. However, the possible solutions to these problems are also provided. The key consideration for the implementation of the three systems considered in this document is the reaction of the body during sleep and sickness. This reaction acts as a trigger to the system in order to provide the appropriate response. Conclusion The time taken to respond to sleep during driving, a heart attack or to provide assistance to an ailing child can mean the difference between life and death. With the above systems lives would be saved and in other cases property would also be spared. One great advantage with these systems is that they can be easily implemented. Therefore, many people will be able to afford the systems and their accompanying benefits. Finally, these systems use electronic components that require some power supply for them to work appropriately. Since these this technology will be used within vehicles, there will never be power problems since vehicles usually provide their own power. The History of the Heart Rate Monitor The history of heart rate monitors go back to the 1970’s (Nasa, n.d). For instance, NASA started the development of such systems. However, the initial system included the use of paste electrodes that were placed in contact with an astronaut’s skin. One of the challenges with the use of this system was the side effects of the paste substances used. One of these effects was irritation on the person using the heart rate monitor. In other cases, other electrodes posed a challenge of their use in a moving aircraft or device especially when the individual made movements, which resulted in the interruption of the heart rate signal. This system can be illustrated as shown in the diagram below. Figure 1: A heart rate monitor with electrodes attached to an individual’s skin In the year 1977, advancement in the measurement of heart rate was made whereby the devices became wireless (Parker, n.d). Therefore, at this time the device recording the heart rate and the one displaying this data did not have to be interconnected physically. In essence, this device consisted of a belt for recording and transmitting the heart rate, and a watch like device, which displayed this data. Following is an example of such a device, which is also available in the market today. Figure 2: A heart rate monitoring device with a belt and wrist watch. The development of the heart rate sensors continued in the 1990’s whereby a company called Textronics Inc. introduced the first heart monitoring garment into the market (Parker, n.d). This first garment was a brassier, which was fitted with the electronics for reading an individual’s heart rate. In addition to the bra, a wrist watch was also used for displaying the recorded data. Following is a diagram showing an example of such a system in use by an athlete. Figure 3: A heart rate monitor embedded in a feminine sports bra and a displaying device on the wrist of the system’s user Figure 4: A heart rate monitor embedded in a masculine training garment and a displaying device on the wrist of the system’s user The Present Developments for the Heart Rate Monitor The heart rate monitors available in the market today incorporate a wide range of data with regard to the heart rate. This data includes the average heart rate values during certain durations, the time spent during a given range of the heart rate and the burning of calories during exercising (Parker, n.d). Moreover, it is possible to access this data from most devices since there are logs that are stored whenever the device is used. Other features that are available with the heart rate monitoring devices in the market today include continuity of measuring the heart rate, bluetooth availability for connection to other electronic devices such as phones, clocks and exercise timing capabilities (MioShop, n.d). An example of such devices is manufactured by MioGlobal and following are images of some of these devices. Figure 5: Images showing products from Mioglobal and their indicator lights at during different levels of an individual’s heart rate Some of the systems in the market today allow a user to input his training program into the heart monitoring device. Actually, these devices are also intelligent enough to let an individual know when to train harder or to reduce the training intensity. Therefore, a person who follows a strict training program would find such devices very helpful. Following is an image of one of these devices manufactured by a company called Polar. It shows the time spent in training at the bottom and the time spent on zone two at the middle. Figure 6: An image from Polar showing varying data on the display The Future of the Heart Rate Monitors Considering the trend of the heart rate monitors, it is possible to imagine the possibilities for further development of the devices in the future. First, since these devices are already available being embedded on garments, then it is likely to have a wide variety of clothes having these devices embedded on them. Moreover, these garments are likely to be used for regular wear. Second, the ability to transmit heart rate data wirelessly could be harnessed for use over long distances. Therefore, an individual could concentrate on exercising whereas an assistant could monitor the recorded data and advise the training individual appropriately. In connection to this, these devices might also have to incorporate audio transmission and reception components to enhance communication between two or more people. Third, in future heart rate monitoring devices would be integrated in several apparatus such as steering wheel, seat belts, pens and walking sticks. Heart Rate Monitors Usable in a Gym, A Hospital or a Car With all these capabilities and possibilities for the heart rate monitors, there are a couple of technologies that could be very great at the gymnasium, in a car or at a hospital when used with a heart rate monitor. One of these technologies is wireless communication. A good example of such communication is blue tooth. Therefore, a doctor would be able to receive heart rate data for several patients even when far from them. However, for purposes of identifying the specific patient with a problem, a method of identification of the source of data would be needed. Similar advantages would be experienced at a gym even though the data in this case would be for purposes of regulating the training intensity. In a car, data from the driver and passengers could be collected by many sensors and transmitted to a single central processing device. Since the transmission would be wireless, the wiring involved would be very little. The second technology that could be helpful in such places is miniaturization. This means that an electronic component is manufactured into very small sizes. As a result, it becomes possible to have a heart rate monitoring device on a steering wheel without changing its shape or size. Thirdly, the ability of having a database within these devices helps in record keeping for patients, drivers or clients at a gym. Even though the monitoring devices might not have large memory for data storage, the data could be downloaded and stored in other external locations. Industry Trends with Regard to Heart Rate Monitors Some vehicle manufacturers have already started researching and prototyping on methods of monitoring the heart rate of a vehicle’s occupants. One of these firms is Toyota, which showed journalists in Japan their new technology of heart rate monitoring devices embedded on a steering wheel. This was done in the year 2011 in July (The Independent, 2011). This firm also told the journalists that this monitoring system would slow down the car as well as call for medical assistance if it detects an abnormal heart rate. Figure 7: An image of the Toyota’s steering wheel that has heart rate monitoring capabilities A similar development of heart rate monitoring devices in automobiles was done by Ford, which is an American vehicle manufacturing company. This company has been able to incorporate six heart rate sensors into a single seat belt in a vehicle (body shop, 2011). According to Ford, this system is beneficial since it provides a driver the opportunity to slow down and provide assistance to an ailing passenger. In addition, the vehicles installed with telephone services are able to contact medical emergency services on behalf of the person suffering from a heart condition. This is especially important if a driver suffers from an abnormal heart rate. Figure 8: Images of inflatable seatbelts developed by Ford and used in the Explorer vehicle model A third development in the automobile industry involves the safety of children in vehicles. The seats used by children and the driver are installed with occupant sensors. Therefore, whenever a child is in the car and there is no driver, a key alarm sounds to remind the guardian that he or she has left a child in the vehicle (thingamababy, 2007). This technology is important because statistics from KidsInCars.org show that an average of about 133 children die every year for being left in a car alone (thingamababy, 2007). A similar technology is the sensing of temperature within a vehicle. Whenever this system detects an unsafe increase or decrease in temperatures, it sounds an alarm. Consequently, the driver can adjust the temperature in vehicle appropriately. Advantages of the Heart Rate Monitor With the three scenarios that I have proposed for development, several advantages will be experienced by the users of the systems as well as the people around them. One, a vehicle that senses the heart rate of a driver can help prevent accidents from happening. For instance, the Toyota’s development will automatically slow down the vehicle during a decrease in the driver’s heart beat or during a heart attack. Therefore, the risk of damage to that car and others on the road is highly reduced. Moreover, when the vehicle’s telephone line calls for medical emergency services, the driver’s life will have high chances of being saved. Two, a vehicle whose seatbelts have heart rate monitoring sensors will assist in saving the life of a person aboard such a vehicle. Three, being reminded about a child’s presence in a car and his or her body temperature ensures that the safety of the child is not compromised. References Bodyshop (2011). Bodyshopmag.com Available at: http://www.bodyshopmag.com/news-ford-rheinisch-westfalische-technische-hochschule-.aspx. (Accessed: 13 May 2013) MioShop (no date). Mioglobal.com. Available at: http://www.mioglobal.com/products/mio-sport (Accessed: 13May 2013) NASA(no date) NASA Archive. Available at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20020087018_2002140994.pdf (Accessed: 12 May 2013) Paker, S. (2007). Articlebase.com. Available at: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/history-of-heart-rate-monitors-253755.html (Accessed: 12 May 2013). The Independent (2011). The independent.co.uk. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/steering-wheel-checks-heart-rate-while-you-drive-2326760.html (Accessed: 13 May 2013) Thingamababy (2007). Thingamababy.com. Available at: http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2007/07/babysafety.html (Accessed:13 May 2013) Read More