from The Korea Times
Athletes to Wear Smart Bio-Shirts
Amateur marathoners sometimes fail to pace themselves during the long, 42.195-kilometer course. This is very dangerous and can even lead to a runners death.
To reduce the risk, a team of Korean scientists has developed wearable computing ware, called BioShirt, which warns runners who try to exceed their limits.
The team, led by Kim Seung-hwan at the state-backed Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, yesterday unveiled BioShirt at the ongoing National Sports Festival.
Several sprinters tested the BioShirt suits, which measure their heartbeats, temperature and running speeds at the 87th annual event in North Kyongsang Province.
“BioShirt is a mobile physical data monitoring device. We are staging field tests with sprinters to check whether or not the system works, Kim said.
“After checking this systems viability via the pilot run, we plan to commercialize it late next year. Our immediate target is the nations millions of amateur marathoners, Kim said.
The BioShirt is composed of two parts _ a specially designed shirt and a monitoring system that weighs about just 20 grams including a battery.
The battery life is roughly three and a half hours but it will be prolonged to approximately five hours, the average running time of recreational marathoners.
“Next year, people wearing BioShirt will be able to know their temperatures, heart rates and speeds while running on a real-time basis using a wristwatch-type miniature computer enabled by Bluetooth, Kim said.
“When any of the three data types hits a ceiling configured in advance, a warning sign will let marathoners know it is time to stop running and take a rest, Kim said.
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Kim projected BioShirt will be a hit thanks to its convenience and competitive price.
“This mobility-specific monitoring device would still weigh just 20 grams even when Bluetooth functionality is added and the price will also be affordable, Kim said.
Kim said the application of BioShirt will be various and it can be used as a non-invasive ambulatory monitoring system for patients.
“BioShirt can gather data during patients daily routines around the clock, storing it to give doctors precious information for a clinical purpose, Kim said.
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