Show me your ear and I’ll tell you how you’re doing: Ear-level Biosensor technology and its application for networked technical assistance systems
Prof. Dr. Dr. Birger Kollmeier (Physics, Medicine)
Prof. Karin Wolf-Ostermann (Health Sciences)
The ear is not only suitable for positioning hearing aids or headsets, but it is also a very good location for a range of biosensors (e.g. EEG recording, gait analysis via position and acceleration sensors, pulse oximetry, blood glucose levels, and more). Here, the value and usability of the data recorded from these sensors for a number of use cases for networked technical assistance systems close to the ear (“hearables”) will be systematically evaluated and optimized. Both commercial systems with sensors already available close to the ear and experimental sensor systems will be set up and investigated with regard to their applicability in the areas of communication (EEG) and mobility (IMU, pulse oximetry). The scientific benefit would be the acquisition and optimization of appropriately pre-processed and classified multimodal sensor data. The technical benefit would be the feasibility assessment of any biosensors to be integrated into a hearing aid, and the social benefit would be the empowerment of hearing aid wearers through the use of ear-level high-tech sensor technology, which would enable more complete health monitoring than before.