Introducing Audioplethysmography (APG): A Groundbreaking Technique for Cardiac Monitoring in ANC Wearables
In the world of consumer electronics and health technology, there’s a growing interest in incorporating health monitoring features into active noise cancelling (ANC) wearables. However, traditional methods often require additional sensors, resulting in complex hardware configurations and reduced battery life. That’s where Google’s research team comes in with their groundbreaking technique called Audioplethysmography (APG), which allows ANC wearables to conduct accurate cardiac monitoring without any extra hardware.
Before APG, integrating health monitoring sensors into ANC wearables was challenging and costly. The research team proposed a new approach using APG, which involves transmitting a low-intensity ultrasound signal through the headphones’ speakers and capturing modulated echoes through the feedback microphones. This innovative method detects subtle changes in the ear canal, providing valuable insights into the user’s cardiac activities without sacrificing design or battery life.
APG leverages a cylindrical resonance model to extract a pulse-like waveform that closely resembles the user’s heartbeat. By using channel diversity and coherent detection, APG ensures accurate monitoring even during physical activities, improving signal quality and resilience to motion artifacts. This technology has successfully demonstrated its effectiveness in measuring heart rate and heart rate variability, making it an affordable and reliable method for health monitoring through consumer-grade ANC headphones.
The implementation of APG represents a significant advancement in consumer health sensing. It overcomes the limitations of existing methods without compromising device performance or design complexity. By harnessing the power of ultrasound technology, the research team has developed a technique that remains robust and accurate even during dynamic physical activities or variations in physical attributes.
The benefits of APG extend beyond technical capabilities. Unlike traditional methods, APG is inclusive and can accommodate various skin tones and ear canal sizes, making it accessible to a diverse user base. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for widespread adoption of health-sensing technologies in consumer-grade ANC headphones, making health monitoring more convenient for everyone.
In conclusion, the introduction of APG marks a significant milestone in hearable health sensing. Its ability to accurately monitor cardiac activities without extra sensors or complex hardware setups has the potential to revolutionize consumer health monitoring. By addressing the challenges of existing methods and showcasing resilience to diverse user characteristics, APG is a promising and accessible technology for a wide range of users.
For more information, check out the blog and paper. All credit goes to the researchers behind this project. Don’t forget to join our ML SubReddit, Facebook Community, Discord Channel, and Email Newsletter for the latest AI research news and projects. And if you like our work, you’ll love our newsletter! We’re also on Telegram and WhatsApp.
About the author: Madhur Garg is a consulting intern at MarktechPost and a student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna. He has a strong passion for Machine Learning and enjoys exploring the latest advancements in technology. With a keen interest in artificial intelligence and its practical applications, Madhur aims to contribute to the field of Data Science and its impact on various industries.
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