Google researchers have introduced a novel method to harness active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones for tracking heart rates without the need for extra hardware. A paper titled “APG: Audioplethysmography for cardiac monitoring with hearable devices,” shared at Mobicom 2023, details this innovative approach. The technique involves using the built-in speakers of ANC headphones to emit a low-intensity ultrasound wave, which is then captured by the headphones’ microphones to derive heart rate data. This method, named “APG,” generates a pulse-like waveform synchronized with the heartbeat, disclosing intricate cardiac details such as dicrotic notches.
The study, conducted over 8 months with 153 participants, suggests that APG surpasses conventional light-based photoplethysmograms (PPG) and electrocardiograms (ECG) sensors. It boasts features such as non-interference with battery life, compatibility with various skin tones, and resilience to motion artifacts and seal conditions. Google’s research indicates that this technology, executed through a simple software update, can potentially transform any ANC-enabled headphones into heart rate monitoring devices. Remarkably, the system operates seamlessly during various activities, be it listening to music or engaging in workouts, expanding its utility beyond standard health monitoring scenarios.
