Smart Glasses Track Fatigue in Real-Time, Promising Safety Boost
Scientists from the University of Washington and Dongguk University have developed a lightweight, smart eye tracker integrated into glasses. This innovative device monitors fatigue in real-time, showing great promise in various industries and healthcare settings.
The glasses, weighing a mere 56 grams and consuming less than 10 milliwatts of power, are comfortable for all-day wear. They use cylindrical carbon nanotube-paper composite sensors embedded in the frames to detect eye blinks and closures. The system translates these minute changes in the electric field around the eye into digital biomarkers of fatigue.
In tests, the device could distinguish people with chronic fatigue from healthy controls with 74% accuracy. Blink rates tracked closely with self-reported sleepiness, showing a 73% correlation with standard fatigue scales. This could revolutionise safety protocols in transportation, manufacturing, and space exploration by monitoring alertness.
The research team plans to enhance the ergonomics of the device, deliver real-time mobile alerts, and expand clinical trials. They aim to include severe fatigue and related disorders in their future studies.
The smart eye tracker, developed by researchers at the University of Washington and Dongguk University, offers a promising solution for real-time fatigue monitoring. With further improvements and clinical trials, this technology could significantly impact safety and health in various sectors.
