Soon, smartphone cameras might revolutionize telehealthcare. A team of researchers have devised a state-of-the-art system that uses real-time video of a person’s face to determine their pulse and respiration rate by detecting subtle changes, like how light reflects off of a person’s face. However, there is still one prominent issues: the system trips up when analysing people with darker skin, alongside videos with poor lighting conditions. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
