EPIC Motion Sensor Studies Your Heart from a Distance

Medical exams can be really harsh on one's privacy, but Plessy Semiconductors says it managed to make at least one checkup easier on everyone involved.

The British company introduced an ECG (Electrocardiography) sensor that doesn't need electroconductive gels, sticky electrodes or anything of that sort to carry out its role.

Instead, it features the EPIC, short for Electric Potential Integrated Circuit, which detects tiny changes in the electric field.

It should have an easy time monitoring a heartbeat even through clothing, like sweaters, and even for other things, like finding humans in smoke-filled rooms (firefighters would benefit a lot).

Additionally, because of the principle it is based on, EPIC should have a place in motion sensing interfaces like the Kinect.

All things considered, there are definitely more uses for this sensor than this, admittedly important, application in healthcare.