A Black Box for People

lightwaveman writes "Developed for astronauts, a small device called 'the CPOD' does for people what black boxes do for airplanes. It's a compact, portable, wearable device -- a single piece of equipment that gathers a wide variety of vital signs. About the size of a computer mouse, a CPOD is worn around the waist. It's comfortable enough to be worn while sleeping. It's non-invasive. It takes only minutes to don. Importantly, it can track a person's physiologic functioning as they go about their normal routine -- they don't have to be tethered to some stationary device. It can store data for eight-hour periods for later downloading; alternatively, it can send it wirelessly, in real time, to some other device."

Comments

I'm ready for it

[slimak]

All the "invasion of privacy" posts that will follow from the fact that this can transmit your vitals wirelessly. I guess in this case it is somewhat true, but then again, what do I care if someone knows my heartrate is 84 and increases to 108 whenever a hot blond walks up?

Re:I'm ready for it

[millahtime]

I don't think there will be too much provacy problems. If you have a problem with it then you can just take it off or not wear it in the first place.

Re:I'm ready for it

[wtansill]

I can see it now -- the advertising community taps in to my CPOD unit:

• "He's constipated -- send him Metamucil coupons!"
  
• "He's ogling a pretty girl -- send advertisments for Viagra, condoms, and cheap hotels."
• "He's eating chili -- send over a sample of Rolaids or Pepcid AC."
• "He's working past 8:00 pm again -- send coupons for takeout chinese."

And so it goes...

huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

Sounds like a glorafied tape recorder to me, you know, the kind lawyers and college kids use.

Will it die for your sins, though?

medical breakthrough

[millahtime]

This could be a medical breakthrough. There are so many times when you may have spurratic symptoms and when you go see the doctor he can't see any of them. With this he can see when something was happening what was going on. Help send them in a better direction. This could really help people out.

Obvious other uses

[MBAFK]

One of my friends works as a carer in an old peopels home, she reckons this thing could be really helpful (since they are massively understaffed).

Quick, bring it to market!

[GPLDAN]

I wanted to say something witty and get modded funny, something about "I've fallen and can't get up!" - but I honestly think in a few months, at best, infomercials will start catering this tech to the elderly. The boomers are moving towards geriatric age, they will want a RF based device in their home that auto dials 911 if they have a heart attack or a stroke.

Right now, if I am ADT or one of the home security firms, I am aggressively looking to buy, develop or partner with a hospice firm to tie the two together.

Remote medical attention?

[Atanamis]

Perhaps we could even further enhance the system by allowing the symptoms to be transmitted as an email attachment to the doctor. He could then diagnose your illness, and call a prescription in to your pharmacy without ever having to see you. As the technology progressed, we could have the diagnosis made automatically by a computer.

Eventually, you would just take your readings to the pharmacy, put them in a machine, and receive your prescription. Drug interactions, body weight/type, and past conditions could all be factored to obtain an optimal medical diagnosis.

Re:Size

[lrucker]

I have serious doubts I'd find it comfortable to sleep with that thing strapped to my waist.

Consider that if you're doing it for medical reasons, the alternative is wires stuck to your head - yeah, it's comfortable. (Mom had a stroke and every couple of weeks she has to be wired up for a day or two)