New PDA Listens To Your Heartbeat

Roland Piquepaille writes "CardioNet Inc., a company based in San Diego, has developed a wireless technology to monitor heart patients. According to this Computerworld article, the technology was 'originally developed by Qualcomm Inc. to track and send messages to large truck fleets.' CardioNet's service is initially focused on the 2 million U.S. people suffering from arrhythmia. Each patient is equipped with a PDA-type electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring device connected by a short-range wireless system to electrodes on his chest. Data is sent to his doctor via a built-in cell phone chip. More details, including a diagram and pictures showing how the system works are also available."

Comments

well

[Tirel]

I don't see a point unless this includes a tracking device.. I mean, what good is it if my doctor knows I'm dying, but doesn't know where I am??

Re:well

[Stephen Samuel]

Ahh, but better yet are the false positives when it gets disconnected etc.

It won't be a false positive for very long. When the alarm goes off, it'll give you a heart attack

(talk about mrbid humor...)

I want one

[Exiler]

If I had one of these babies I could have it log onto IRC and AIM and inform my friends via e-mail of my death =D

Only one problem...

[dnaboy]

A lot of hospitals still require people to turn off cell phones, as they allegedly might have an effect on other equipment. Talk about valuing your own life over others...

BSD

[runderwo]

Someone use it on *BSD! Finally, we can know for sure whether it is really dying, or not!

Don't use any Microsoft programs...

[JamesP]

Clippy: It seems you're having a heart attack... Do you want me to call for help?

love tester

[Ugodown]

Sombody will hack it and be able to hijack the wireless signal. Then love-less geeks will be able to tell by heart rate if she actually likes me... No, I mean them!

Bluetooth

[vevva]

Bluetooth has discovered a new device "Human Heart" - Autoconfigure (Yes/No)?

Re:Bluetooth

[Anonymous Coward]

Thanks for upgrading to PocketPC Longhorn edition.

[information message box pops up]
Windows has detected that the device "Human Heart" has not been properly signed. To protect you, the device has been terminated. Please reboot PocketPC.

Dangerous for nerds

[rde]

Can you see the conversation between a doctor and a nerd about this?

Doctor: Now, Poindexter, I've just set this PDA up...
PDA: Thump... thump... thump...
Doctor: And I'm giving it to you.
PDA: Kathump...kathump...kathump...
Doctor: As well as the regular functions, it's got a few more...
PDA: KathumpKathumpKathump
Doctor:It records your heartbeat, for instance
PDA: KathumpityKathumpityKathumpity
Doctor: Oh. 180? That can't be right. It musn't work. Here, take this stopwatch, and sms me with your pulse every half an hour.
PDA: Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

This is a great idea for parents.

[AntiOrganic]

Just hook it up to your kid's heart, and you'll know by his increased heartrate when he's downloading porn on the thing and fapping away.

Can you hear me now

[GillBates0]

Each patient is equipped with a PDA-type electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring device connected by a short-range wireless system to electrodes on his chest. Data is sent to his doctor via a built-in cell phone/ chip.

Can you hear my heart beat now *dub* *dub*
Can you hear it now. *dub* *dub*
Can you hear it now. *silence*... OH MY GOD THEY KILLED KENNY
YOU BAS...Naah, just lost the signal there for a while.

Spyware

[Skapare]

Spyware will now know just what great discount offers really excite you, and can report those back so you then get spammed with more such offers (until you finally have a heart attack).