(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
Smartwatch fall detection is a life-saving feature for anyone at risk of passing out or tripping, but what if your device could predict that you're going to faint before you do? Samsung is on its way to figuring that out.
A new clinical study from Samsung, in collaboration with Korea’s Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, showed that smartwatches may one day be able to predict the wearer's fainting before it happens using AI algorithms and a modified device.
The study found that a modified Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 could predict vasovagal syncope (VVS), a condition characterized by rapid drops in heart rate and blood pressure that can lead to fainting and loss of consciousness. The researchers say it affects up to 40% of people throughout their lives, with many experiencing it multiple times.
Professor Junhwan Cho, a cardiology expert at Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, said, “An early warning could give patients advance time to get into a safe position or call for help, which would dramatically reduce the incidence of secondary injuries.”
It would be able to notify the user to sit down or move themselves to an area where they’re less likely to experience a severe injury. The fainting itself isn’t often a life-threatening condition, but the fall can cause wider issues, such as a concussion or blood loss.
The research found that, among a group of 132 patients, they could predict episodes of fainting within a five-minute window with 84.6% accuracy. The device used was a Galaxy Watch 6 with an additional photoplethysmography sensor attached, along with an AI model to monitor the person’s heart rate variability.
The tool remains a clinical study, and Samsung has yet to confirm whether it plans to bring similar features to a commercially available device. A Samsung executive said in a blog post about the research, “We are committed to driving technological innovation that empowers our users to lead healthier everyday lives,” suggesting it may be a possibility on a future device.
Don’t expect this to happen in the near future, but we may one day see a new Samsung Galaxy Watch wearable with faint prediction tools built in.