Engineers designing earbuds to warn drivers when they're drowsy
BOSTON - Researchers have created earbuds that can warn drivers when they are drowsy.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, drowsy driving contributes to hundreds of motor vehicle deaths a year, and operating heavy machinery while groggy, say, in construction or mining, is also dangerous.
Originally inspired by Apple AirPods, engineers at UC Berkeley developed prototype earbuds with built-in electrodes that when in contact with the ear canal can detect alpha brain waves associated with closing your eyes or starting to fall asleep.
They continue to refine their device but hope that one day these special earpieces can be used to protect people from fatigue-related accidents and death.
