Researchers at the Imperial College in London have developed a device which can be worn behind the ear and is used to measure a subject’s posture, stride length, step frequency, and acceleration. Apparently, such a sensor is in high demand, as it could be put to use helping to optimize athletic performance, and to monitor changes in movement or progress in people recovering from surgeries or those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. According to the project leader, Guang-Zhong Yang, the device is working and could be mass-produced in 12 to 18 months. Of course, the big selling point for the sensor is the fact that it’s small enough to be worn on the body — even during non-contact sports — and is capable of measuring three dimensions of movement via its accelerometer. Researchers are testing the sensors on individuals recovering from surgery and athletes, with aims to broaden the types of data recorded, and improve the range of the device.

More info here.

From Crossbow’s blog:

It is always difficult to determine behavior without observing one’s subject in its natural environment. If noticed, the subject may change its behavior or just run away. For example, I pride myself on being able to type at least 65-85 wpm. But of course, as soon as someone walks in and watches me I make mistakes and begin typing like a 5-year old… To observe anything in its natural habitat is one of the hardest challenges to overcome when trying to monitor many species in our world today. However, there is a group of individuals at University of Florida and University of Missouri, Colombia who are using Crossbow’s wireless sensor networks products to try and understand the role of free-ranging wildlife in maintaining diversity, tracking invasive species and the spread of emerging diseases by obtaining unobtrusive visual information that prove vital when studying the behaviors and interactions of wildlife species in their environment.

More info here.