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Toshiba Corp plans to release a wristband-like biological sensor in September.
The sensor, Silmee W20/W21, can measure the amounts of activity, sleep, conversation and ultraviolet light as well as pulse rate. It works in conjunction with smartphones to record and manage data.
The sensor has various functions for monitoring the elderly. For example, if a button on the sensor is pressed down in case of emergency, a notification will be sent to a registered organization via the users smartphone.
The device is equipped with a three-axis acceleration sensor, pulse sensor, microphone and ultraviolet sensor. It can also detect its location using GPS.
Toshiba has previously released the "Actiband," which can measure the amounts of a wearer's activity and sleep. With its new device, the company has increased the number of measurement items.
Toshiba has also released the Silmee Bar-type Lite, another wearable biological sensor that the company released in May as a lower-priced model of the Silmee Bar. It can be attached to the chest of a user. The price is about ¥85,000, which is lower than the price of the Silmee Bar type (about ¥100,000). It comes with a replaceable gel pad.
Unlike the Silmee Bar type, the Silmee Bar type Lite can measure a breathing interval based on cardiac potential. Its weight is slightly less than that of the previous model.
Toshiba will integrate the brands of all if its wearable biological sensors into the Silmee line.
© By Jyunichi Oshita
15 Comments
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lostrune2
The Microsoft Health Band could do more for a lot less
cwhite
Actually it's quite cheap for what it can do. Just that the article is crap!! Mobile ECG (electrocardiogram) devices are not cheap.
Silmee device that can measure skin temperature, heart rate, motion, sleep quality, and more. It’s aimed at researchers and medical professionals and offers more precise measurements than a typical consumer device: the heart rate sensor actually has electrocardiogram functionality. The Silmee Bar type Lite can measure a breathing interval based on cardiac potential.
Hospitals and people with certain problems can benefit from these wearables and with good software analytics can learn from the data points. Remember, the cost is not in the hardware, but the quality of the software!!
Reza Rahman
Too too expensive. I have Fitbit which is 21,000 yen. Most people I talk to say it's too expensive. 85,000 yen!!! Seriously. It's way too much. It would be better to create wristband MK 1 then every year make improvements. This lowering the initial cost.
kaynide
That's the kind of crap we're talking about Toshiba. You can't have these huge scandals, be booted/downgraded in stock and then be making this kind of none sense. Most of this a smartwatch/phone can already do...
Why on earth a company feels compelled to try and make or compete in every area of electronics I will never understand. Make a few good, solid and reasonably priced products and they'd be making profit. Some companies should be pushing innovation, Toshiba...not so much. Not at this time.
Kaerimashita
What is "wristband like"?? you mean a wristband?
kwatt
it seems that elderly people would love it unless a lot of things to do about controlling functions.
kurisupisu
Now you can track grandad in real time as he wanders around the neighborhood
harvey pekar
Apparently you can put a price on your health.
"The sensor, Silmee W20/W21, can measure the amounts of activity, sleep, conversation and ultraviolet light as well as pulse rate."
When have people stopped being able to do things for themselves? Measure the amounts of conversation? What does that even mean? "TALK MORE!" "YOU'RE GOING ON AND ON ABOUT NOTHING! SHUT IT!" "NO ONE IS LISTENING TO YOU!"
Roger Jolly
I suppose they it happened the same for them as the Tokyo Olympic logo designer... they never saw the Apple Watch and the similarities are all by chance. lol
TrevorPeace
Yup, far too expensive.
Gerard van Schip
85k? is it made of gold? Why are smart devices so insane expensive or not even available in Japan?
smithinjapan
Sorry, that's already been done. It's called Apple watch. Saying it has functions or the elderly means what? How are they different fom other used functions and specifically targeting the elderly? I wonder what the emblem will be if they make one.
gogogo
85,000 - 100,000yen? Who is going to buy this?
TakahiroDomingo
the price is wrong. it's a ripoff, and because of that, others will copy it and sell it at affordable realistic price. can't wait to see it happen.