It’s no secret that wearable technology has become a part of everyday living in this day and age. Devices can monitor heartbeats, track caloric intake, determine sleep patterns and count miles traveled over the course of the day. So, it was only a matter of time before the technology would be applied to television usage and preferences, and UK cable giant Virgin Media has jumped at the opportunity to enter the wearables space.
Ryan Oliver, 15, and Jonathan Kingsley, 14, who are both students at Manchester Creative Studio, have developed the KipstR, a wristband that senses when its wearer falls asleep and sets the user's TiVo to then record what he or she was watching, so they can pick up where they left off when they wake up.
To create the device, Oliver and Kingsley used an Objet Connex 3D printer, which produced a Polyjet resin that is stronger than the plastics created by most 3D printers. Inside the device, a pulse oximeter – typically known for its ability to diagnose sleep disorders – measures the wearer’s blood flow as well as the amount of oxygen circulating throughout his or her body to determine when someone is falling asleep. In addition to the pulse oximeter, the KipstR includes a spark core chip, sleep mode indicator, push button, and a lithium-polymer battery.
Oliver and Kingsley contributed their design of the KipstR to Virgin Media as part of the company’s Switched on Futures initiative, which aims to inspire digital innovation and enable digital inclusion.
“We jumped at the chance to work with the Virgin Media team on this project,” Oliver told The Daily Mail. “It was a brilliant challenge for us but we’ve learnt so much and are really pleased with the end result.”
Virgin has also said that the application could be further developed in the future to help gauge a wearer’s emotional response to a show or to connect to other devices in the home, such as central heating.
“We have been exploring the possibilities of connected entertainment for some time and are very excited to unveil KipstR,” Neil Illingworth, head of advanced technology and innovation at Virgin Media said. “With emerging new technologies, it is possible to create almost anything, including emotionally entertainment systems that can suggest shows based on your moods, or even harnessing brainwaves to control your television.”
Since Oliver and Kingsley were expressly commissioned by Virgin Media to develop the KipstR, it will only be available for Virgin customers in the UK for the foreseeable future. But Virgin Media says that if the device takes off, it may eventually be readied for global release. UK Virgin Media subscribers who are interested in registering for a trial of the device are encouraged to visit Virgin Media’s website for more details.
Via Mashable, Business Insider and Virgin Media
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