It’s still in the experimental phase but Ford Motor Co. engineers have developed an auto driver’s seat that can monitor a driver’s heartbeat, without attaching any sensors to the skin. Development of the seat comes on the heels of other possible in-car health monitoring solutions being researched at Ford, including voice-controlled diabetic and asthma management tools and a Web-based allergen alert system. Using six embedded sensors, the seat’s backrest detects electrical heart impulses and the data could be analyzed by in-car computer software or medical experts, Ford said. It could link to remote medical services or provide real-time health information and alerts of a possible heart attack.
