The Pentagon is using fitness trackers to test an algorithm that could detect Covid days before symptoms show up.
The test group is using the Garmin Fēnix 6 watch and an Oura ring, which tracks sleep and activity, but officials want participants to eventually use whatever health monitoring device they want. | Michele Tantussi/Getty ImagesWhat if a fitness tracker could predict that the wearer was Covid-positive hours or even days before they start noticing symptoms?
The new award effectively moves the project out of the prototyping phase to where other government agencies can acquire the technology. The team developed an algorithm that uses data gathered by the watch and ring and predicts whether a user has Covid-19 two days before they are showing symptoms. The technology is akin to a “check engine light” in a car that alerts the user that something might be off, but does not pinpoint what is wrong, said Jeff Schneider, DIU rapid analysis threat exposure program manager.
The watch tracks respiration rate, oxygen saturation and heart rate, while the ring collects heart rate and skin temperature, he said. “What does that mean? It means I can isolate, it means I’m probably not going to drink that glass of wine, it means that I’m going to hydrate and get ahead of this and try not to get everyone else sick,” Schneider said.
“We would love to be able to scale this to 11,500 [users], but we don’t have the money for that,” Schneider said. “Right now, we are targeting the high-end frontline supervisors … and also DIU members.”During the research phase, DIU offered the technology to different military organizations, such as U.S. Northern Command and North American Defense Aerospace Command.
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