Google has learned to measure human heart rate with TWS headphones
Scientists from Google Research have introduced audio plethysmography (APG) technology, which allows measuring heart rate using ordinary wireless headphones with noise cancellation.
What it means
APG involves sending a low-intensity ultrasound signal through the headphone speakers. This signal causes an echo that is picked up by the headphone microphones. During the deformation of blood vessels, the volume of the ear canals changes slightly, so the heartbeat will modulate these ultrasound echoes.
Thus, the technology does not require any additional sensors or equipment. You can even add it to your existing headphones via an update. Neither skin tone, nor the size of the ear canal, nor the fit of the headphones affect the accuracy of the measurements.
Google researchers conducted a study involving 153 people. As it turned out, measuring the pulse using audioplethysmography technology gives quite accurate results. When measuring heart rate, the average error is 3.21%, and heart rate variability is 2.7%.
