IBM has developed a mini-sensor that provides insight into the health of people through their fingernails. This is what the technology company from the United States is announcing in spite of it.
According to a blog post from Big Blue, the now developed mini-sensor has been specially developed to measure the pressure, temperature and surface texture of fingernails and to translate the data into signals about how they give and thus provide information about how we use our fingers daily. On the basis of these data, other body functionalities could be investigated.
Sensor in two parts
Specifically, the mini-sensor consists of two parts. The first part is a compact computer mounted on top of a finger. The second part consists of a number of voltage meters to be attached to the fingernail. These strain gauges detect the fine movements and changes that the fingers make in the daily use of the hands.
The data collected on the changes that the fingernails go through can mainly be used to gain more insight into the power of a person’s hands. According to developer IBM, this data can once again be used for insight into a much broader range of medical conditions.
Suitable use cases
One of the use cases suitable for these mini-sensors are patients with Parkinson’s disease. The voltage meters can identify, among other things, fluctuations in the frequency and intensity of hand vibrations. For doctors, these are data that may help them to make better care decisions. Gripping power has also proven valuable in evaluating the progression of diseases such as heart disease and in detecting stress.
Other possibilities via AI
The now developed mini-sensor is specifically designed to be used in conjunction with a smart watch. The smart watch processes the data with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that IBM has developed especially for the project.
According to Big Blue, the artificial intelligence used can not only identify abnormal movements, but can also distinguish between different activities. The software is accurate enough to tell, among other things, whether the user is writing and even to determine when they draw numbers. This allows the sensor to be used in the near future as a means of communication for people with disabilities.
This news article was automatically translated from Dutch to give Techzine.eu a head start. All news articles after September 1, 2019 are written in native English and NOT translated. All our background stories are written in native English as well. For more information read our launch article.