The recent Safe and Sound wearables challenge has suddenly become a bit more relevant to me than it was when it was launched. At the time I had no real ideas to offer, which meant I didn't submit an application - things have now changed slightly.
My 68 year old father-in-law recently suffered a massive heart attack and (because that isn't serious enough) VF arrest in the ambulance (just as they arrived at the hospital)!
One roller coaster ride later, 2 stents (1 metal and 1 bio-absorbable 3D printed polymer) and he's out of hospital but not out of the woods.
This is when the idea behind the challenge formed, we dare not leave him unattended for any length of time - he, being a typical bloke - would rather we just left him alone and not 'baby' him constantly; this has already caused a bit of friction and it's only been 10 days since the 'incident'.
I have an old Fitbit Surge lying around, it has the usual 'dodgy' (Photoplethysmographic - PPG) heart rate monitor, motion tracking, GPS and Bluetooth, I also downloaded an app ages ago from Punch Through design which allows you to 'read' the data from Bluetooth device . . . .
An idea is forming, I have little knowledge of how to implement my idea - and if all of the data can be read (GPS for instance), but my mind is whirring away. I would like to be able to see his heart rate (in real time), see if he's moving (the step count incrementation can be read - sometimes . . . ) and see where he is (GPS).
Hmmmmm, we'll see. Time to put another project on my ever growing 'to do' list . . . . . .