Ad: Manage updates with the Download App
ie8 fix

respiration

Aussie firefighters swallowing pills that read core body temp

When the Country Fire Authority in Victoria, Australia, noticed that its firefighters were showing signs of heat stress even when their ear thermometer probes were reading normal temperatures, they decided it was time to find a better gauge in the hopes of preventing heat-related illnesses.

So they tested a smart pill on 50 firefighters evacuating 20 people from a burning medical center, and have already used the readings to change firefighter work patterns, including how long they're exposed to blazes, according to the Australian Associated Press.… Read more

Tiny monitor tracks vital signs sans skin contact

Scientists and engineers have built a monitor that tracks heart rate, respiration, and movement--without requiring direct contact with skin.

The "life and activity" monitor, developed at Oregon State University, is wearable and non-invasive. The team worked with researchers at the University of California at San Diego to develop a noncontact sensor that is essentially an electric field sensor for tracking the heart rate through materials such as clothing.

The sensor also includes a 5-axis inertial measurement unit that allows for ongoing and simultaneous monitoring of movement, heart rate, and respiration. Imagine adhering such a device to your pants … Read more

If the devil really wears Prada, why would Darth Vader get Adidas?

Since when do sneakers qualify as gadgets? They don't--that is, unless they have anything to do with Star Wars. Then, of course, they're fair game for Crave.

And as we all know, if an item involves Lord Vader even in the slightest tangential way, it get double points. (Triple if it's posted by Declan McCullagh.) So what exactly, you might ask, are we talking about today? Feast your Jed-eyes on this pair of Darth-themed sneakers reportedly in the works by Adidas to commemorate this year's 30th anniversary of the day Chewbacca stomped his way into our … Read more