In the new research, Google presented innovative technology in the field (APG). Now wireless headphones with active noise canceling (ANC) can become intellectual devices for health monitoring, and all this thanks to a simple software update.
Google states that the ear channel provides optimal conditions for measuring health indicators. APG technology works on the principle of sending a low-intensity ultrasound signal (TX WAVE) through the speakers of ANC headphones, which, reflected from the walls of the ear canal, causes an echo. The echo reflects the finest changes in the ear channel caused by heartbeat and blood pressure.
The built-in microphones of the headphones analyze the resulting signal (echo) (RX Wave), which has the shape of a pulsed-like wave, synchronized with the heart rate and allows determining the pulse and other blood circulation parameters.
Scheme of the technology APG:
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Modern headphones use microphones to implement the function of active noise reduction. Microphones can detect various biosignals inside and outside the ear channel, thus opening up opportunities for health monitoring. However, the use of such technologies in commercial headphones was difficult. Audiopletismography solves these problems by overcoming hardware restrictions on headphones.
One of the key advantages of the new technology is its reliability. Even when the music is being reproduced or the headphones are imperfectly placed in the ear, the system continues to work accurately. APG can also simultaneously work at different frequencies, allowing for a better signal.
Studies conducted with the participation of 153 people confirmed the high accuracy of APG technology. The method provides stable and accurate measurements of the pulse and variability of the heart rate, while being independent of the shade of the skin or the size of the ear channel.
Google believes that the new approach is significantly superior to traditional monitoring methods, such as photopletismograms (FPG) and electrocardiograms (ECG), especially in terms of convenience and cost for users.
APG, as Google notes, “not only turns ordinary headphones into smart health monitoring