Tag: Smart Homes

Smart Speakers Could Soon Detect Heart Attacks

‘Smart’ homes nowadays are incomplete without a voice assistant enabled speakers. These smart speakers have been becoming increasingly more popular as a household gadget. They bring a variety of both entertainment and practicality to its users. Tech giants like Amazon and Google have pushed for these type of products with their own Echo and Home products respectively. Latest updates constantly add more functions to such gadgets, like the ability to detect heart attacks being developed by certain researchers for emergencies.

A dedicated team from the University of Washington are working towards perfecting a machine learning algorithm that can detect heart attacks. The algorithm is trained to monitor sounds for agonal breathing, where sharp gasps of air are taken by the victim suffering from a heart attack. However, this type of respiration only holds true for about 50% of the victims during cardiac arrest. This tool is being developed to be built into the aforementioned smart speakers to help save lives.

When detecting a heart attack, the devices can help raise an alarm even when the victim is incapacitated. The researchers behind the software are looking to make the process entirely seamless and in the background. This implies that the system can passively monitor the bedroom for breath patterns and under cases of attack it would automatically contact the authorities. A ‘contactless’ system from the smart speakers, as the team coined it, for relaying crucial information to concerned parties.

Unfortunately, the feature is far from being commercially viable as of right now. The algorithm is still being trained with a broad range of data to reduce false positive results regarding agonal breathing. A number of scenarios from different angles and distances to the smart speakers are being currently tested. Audio from real 911 calls that were recorded in Seattle is also being used to train the AI that will run the system. Additionally, the audios include samples from sleep studies, with the system detecting agonal breathing 97% of the time from a distance of upto 6 metres.

Also Read: Samsung Fixes Galaxy Fold And Is Ready For Launch

The system is relatively imperfect with false reports occasionally being treated positively. However, the team is working on ironing out such complications. Soon the world might just see a lot more applications similar to this in the future related to health, fitness and security with the smart speakers. For example, Alexa is capable of listening to the sound of glass breaking and alerting users of a potential break-in, a well thought after feature. Emergency safety nets are always a necessity as every life is important.

June 20, 2019
Xiaomi Launches Mi Body Composition Scale In India At Rs. 1999

Since the turn of the year, Xiaomi has launched quite a few products in India. Up until February, the most famous Xiaomi products were its smartphones and power banks to an extent. In 2017, we met with Manu Kumar Jain, MD of Xiaomi India who conceded that Xiaomi had plans to bring non-smartphone products to the Indian shore. It looks like that has already started.

After launching three smart televisions in a space of one month, the company has now launched the Mi Body Composition Scale in India at a price of Rs. 1999. The device is available to buy exclusively via Mi.com. Fortunately, there are no flash sales for this product. However, its smart TV products will continue to be sold via flash sales which is understandable since their demand is much higher.

Mi Body Composition Scale Features

The smart weighing scale from Xiaomi is obviously more than just a weighing machine. It has a slip-resistant build which makes it safe to use with wet feet. It has a white LED which lights up three seconds after someone stands on the scale. Xiaomi claims that the scale provides accurate body composition statistics with 10 precise data points. It shows muscle mass, BMI, visceral fat, bone mass, body score, body fat, weight, basal metabolism, water content, and more.

For such detailed information, Xiaomi claims to use complex algorithms and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). The Mi Body Composition Scale connects to the Mi-Fit app, which would make a lot of sense for people who also own a Mi-Fit band. Another interesting feature is that the Mi Body Composition Scale can store up to 16 user profiles.

The scale is powered by four AAA batteries that come out of the box. It has a weighing range between 5kg and 150kg with a reading precision of 50 grams.

March 15, 2018
Samsung Forum 2016 : SUHD TV and Smart Fridge Unveiled

Samsung Electronics showcased its range of new innovative technologies for smart homes today at the Samsung Forum 2016, Kuala Lumpur, in a bid to make a serious dent in the growing market space for smart home appliances in the country. Samsung showed off technologies that it believes will make a meaningful difference to the lives of consumers.

The company unveiled its range of smart appliances, spotlighting a dynamic line-up of new products such as the KS9500 series SUHD TV – available in 65-,77-, and 88-inch sizes – that come with the thinnest bezels you’ve ever seen and a smart fridge that comes with a giant 21-inch touchscreen display. The smart fridge is part of Samsung’s ‘Family Hub’ lineup of home appliances.

Samsung along with these also launched a smart oven which comes with what Samsung calls the HotBlast Technology, and also digital inverters which will come with inbuilt stabilizers.

SUHD TV

The SUHD TVs produce unparalleled picture quality with what is “world’s first cadmium-free”, 10-bit Quantum dot display with the “world’s first bezel-less curved design”. The new range as Samsung claims offers stunning brightness, exceptional contrast and the most life-like colors ever offered by Samsung on a TV.

These TVs will provide a premium high dynamic range (HDR) experience, with 1,000 nit HDR minimum for a higher level of contrast between light and dark images. New Ultra Black technology also significantly reduces light reflection, further enhancing picture quality with minimal glare.

The Samsung SUHD TVs will be powered by Tizen operating system for fast access across content, and will also feature a 360 Degree design language.

RT700 Refrigerator

Samsung at the Forum also unveiled the world’s first Smart convertible 5in1 frost free refrigerator. The new top-mounted freezer (TMF) refrigerator, the RT7000, which features Samsung’s unique Twin Cooling Plus technology, is designed to focus on modern, and healthy living.

Twin Cooling Plus tech cooling system that the refrigerator comes equipped with ensures that a humidity level of up to 70 percent is maintained throughout the fridge so that the food stored stays fresh.The smart fridge has a capacity of 620 litres.

Samsung AddWash-Washing Machine

Samsung AddWash Washing Machine has comes with a nifty feature that makes it convenient to add any item, such as a piece of forgotten laundry, without having to drain the washer in mid-cycle. It comes with an extra access door that allows enables it to do so. It also allows users to add hand-washed items for rinsing or additional softener anytime during the cycle.

AddWash Washing Machine comes with a SuperSpeed feature that makes it possible to complete a normal wash in less than an hour without compromising washing performance.

February 4, 2016