A myriad of devices are powered by processors or SoCs featuring
ARM technology. From your smartphone or smartwatch, to your router or media streamer -- and a multitude of devices in between -- odds are that an ARM-based processor has some sort of impact on your daily life. While out covering ARM TechCon, which is currently underway in Santa Clara, we got a glimpse of a device being built by
Heartfelt Technologies leveraging ARM processors by way of the
popular Raspberry Pi, that could actually end up saving your life.
The device is wall-mounted camera system for in-home patient monitoring, which captures cardiovascular information whenever a patient walks past. The camera system specifically looks at the patient’s lower extremities and ankles as they walk by and can predict a potential cardiac event based on the data it captures.
The prototype device is built using an array of off-the-shelf components. In the picture of the device opened up, you can see multiple
Raspberry Pi boards inside, along with boards attached to the various cameras and sensors. They are all connected to a shared
WD storage device, a USB dongle for wireless connectivity, and a simple network switch. Each camera/sensor array appears to have its own dedicated Pi, and the data captured is compiled on the storage device and ultimately sent up to the cloud for analysis. Once the data is processed, high-risk patients can be flagged, identified, and medical professionals can be alerted to take the necessary action.
One of Heartfelt Technologies’ goals is to reduce hospital re-admission rates for congestive heart failure patients. According to
the company’s website, one in five people will suffer from heart failure, and half of those affected will have multiple hospital emergency room visits as a result. However, it is estimated that 75% of these repeat emergency room visits could be avoided, which would save everyone involved time and money.
Marco Chiappetta
Marco's interest in computing and technology dates all the way back to his early childhood. Even before being exposed to the Commodore P.E.T. and later the Commodore 64 in the early ‘80s, he was interested in electricity and electronics, and he still has the modded AFX cars and shop-worn soldering irons to prove it. Once he got his hands on his own Commodore 64, however, computing became Marco's passion. Throughout his academic and professional lives, Marco has worked with virtually every major platform from the TRS-80 and Amiga, to today's high end, multi-core servers. Over the years, he has worked in many fields related to technology and computing, including system design, assembly and sales, professional quality assurance testing, and technical writing. In addition to being the Managing Editor here at HotHardware for close to 15 years, Marco is also a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of PC and technology related print publications and he is a regular fixture on HotHardware’s own Two and a Half Geeks webcast. - Contact: marco(at)hothardware(dot)com
