New Ear Device to Avoid Falling Asleep at the Wheel
UC Berkeley researchers in the US have found a way to use brain waves to detect drowsiness with ear devices, which can be used to wake us up.
For those who drive or operate machinery, drowsiness can be deadly — many deaths on the road are from dozing at the wheel, and construction companies consider it a critical hazard.
Now, engineers at the University of California have developed a prototype which uses electroencephalogram (EEG), the same technology that doctors use to record brain activity.
However, Berkeley researchers have found a way of shrinking all of the electrodes that normally attach to the head, into small devices inserted into the ear which make contact with the ear canal.
The devices are generic in design with flexible electrodes to ensure they fit any type of ear. This then converts alpha brain waves wirelessly into a human-readable display.
Not only can the drowsiness alpha waves be detected, but also eye blinks and the auditory steady-state response (hearing a steady pitch).
The future is bright for this technology, as it will make its way into hearing aids to ensure wearers never fall asleep at the wrong time.
Research is also continuing to include sleep disorders and detect heart beats, eye movement and jaw clenches to further broaden the usefulness of this great technology.
