Earbuds developed to combat drowsiness while driving

New Delhi: Drowsy driving is a critical hazard which contributes to road accidents worldwide. However, engineers have now developed earbuds to address the drowsiness while driving. Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed prototype earbuds that can detect signs of drowsiness in the brain, aiming to protect drivers and machine operators from the dangers of drowsiness.

The earbuds function like an electroencephalogram (EEG), measuring brain waves through built-in electrodes that contact the ear canal. While the electrical signals detected are smaller than those in traditional EEGs, the new study shows that the Ear EEG platform is sensitive enough to detect alpha waves, a pattern of brain activity that increases when drowsiness sets in.

“I was inspired when I bought my first pair of Apple's AirPods in 2017. I immediately thought what an amazing platform for neural recording. We believe this technology can classify drowsiness, indicating its potential to classify sleep and diagnose sleep disorders,” said study author Rikky Muller.