New Software Turns Mobile-Phone Accessory into Breathing Monitor From: Medical Design Technology - 09/13/2017 Researchers have developed new software that makes it possible to use low-cost, thermal cameras attached to mobile phones to track how fast a person is breathing. This type of mobile thermal imaging could be used for monitoring breathing problems in elderly people living alone, people suspected of having sleep apnea or babies at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers report that their new software combined with a low-cost thermal camera performed well when analyzing breathing rate during tests simulating real-world movement and temperature changes. In addition to detecting breathing problems, the new approach could one day allow the camera on your computer to detect subtle breathing irregularities associated with pain or stress and then send prompts that help you relax and regulate breathing. Although traditional video cameras can be used to track breathing, they don't work well in low-light situations and can cause privacy concerns when used for monitoring in nursing homes, for example. Read the entire article at: https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2017/09/new-software-turns-mobile-phone-accessory-breathing-monitor Links: Nadia Bianchi-Berthouz https://uclic.ucl.ac.uk/people/nadia-berthouze Youngjun Cho https://uclic.ucl.ac.uk/people/youngjun-cho Related: Mattress Uses Biosensing Textiles, Sensors to Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/02/mattress-uses-biosensing-textiles-sensors-prevent-sudden-infant-death-syndrome Pediatricians Say No to Wearable Smartphone Baby Monitors https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2017/01/pediatricians-say-no-wearable-smartphone-baby-monitors Designing Medical Devices For Developing Countries https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/11/designing-medical-devices-developing-countries