There is no dispute that cars, trucks, and SUVs will add up rapidly over the next decade. List of Internet-powered features you use during your commute each year, from Amazon Alexa compatibility to navigation-linked speed limiters.
Some technologies will make driving more convenient, especially when it becomes a tedious task. However, this is just the beginning. Your car can save you life by becoming a doctor – no medical school training is required.
I spoke with Steve Surh, vice president and general manager of automotive cloud services for Samsung-owned Harman, to learn how a car can monitor a driver’s health.
Driver’s eyes
Tracking a driver is not new; Millions of cars already do this. Mercedes-Benz inaugurated the Attention Assist technology on the 2009 E-Class, and the race towards autonomy has created cars that truly look right in the eye.
Cadillac’s Super Cruise system relies on a driver-facing camera to tell if the driver is paying attention. If it notices you seeing a smartphone, or not looking anywhere else, then you are turning it off, emitting a visual and audible warning that prompts you to stay focused and awake. In some cases, the automated system may also take control.
Surhigh says that Harman can build wellness monitoring technology on these foundations.
“Some car manufacturers are talking about a teleductor-type service. Therefore, if there is a system that monitors the driver’s vital signs, and detects that something is wrong, a teleductor that is available may be part of the vehicle’s connectivity package, ”explained Surah. “You can not only monitor vitals, but you can also be proactive in terms of response to an issue, whether it’s something that is heart rate based, or blood sugar level.”
Curious how your car can monitor your heart rate? Look no further than the nearest gym.
Curious how your car can monitor your heart rate? Look no further than the nearest gym. Sensors in the steering wheel, similar to those found on a treadmill or stationary bike, can track your pulse. Alternatively, Surhigh says that your car can get this information from wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers. Data can be shared via Bluetooth, or in-car 5G. Ford has also conceived the idea of burying six pulse sensors on the driver’s seat.
“Car manufacturers are already integrating technology that monitors driver monitoring. Once you get some use cases that are actually manufactured, the incremental cost of being able to do other things is very manageable. At that time, it is more than one software type build related to hardware, ”Surah explained.
The possibilities do not end when the driver is able to track the heart rate. For example, it is not far-fetched to imagine compulsory breathing for motorists with a long history of driving under the influence.
Whether or not you will tick the “heart rate monitor” box in the options list depends on your profile. If you’re buying a 24-year-old Volkswagen GTI, there’s a good chance you’re more inclined to have a surround-sound system and Amazon Alexa compatibility. If you are 84 years in the market for a Ford Expedition? Okay, I’m not going to be normal, but there is a better chance that you will be concerned about your pulse with someone 60 years of age.
Although pulse tracking is not for everyone, it is one of several dozen functions that car companies are integrating into their infotainment systems.
“The digital experience is replacing very different carmakers than before, whether it’s horsepower or some other vehicle experience involving engines, braking systems or other components,” Surah said. “Now, they are looking at digital components of the car for mass discrimination.”
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