# Earbud Heart Monitors A New Device Turns Listening Tools Into a Health-Conscious Pulse Monitor By Alyson Wyers | Published 2013-11-08 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pulse-monitor References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2013/11/earbud-heart-monitor.html) & [bifrostec.co.jp](http://www.bifrostec.co.jp/english/) A new device turns any pair of earbuds into a functional pulse monitor. This innovative invention is the result of a partnership between Japanese investment firm Bifrostec and international research institute The Kaiteki Institute. The device was unveiled recently in Japan at the [Healthcare Device Exhibition](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/healthcare-staffing). This means one could gather important heart health measurements while multitasking by listening to music, podcasts, audio books or videos. This is ideal not only for health care practitioners, but for civilian health fanatics as well. With help from the device, the [earbuds turned pulse monitor](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airpods-pro-3) is able to measure subtle vibrations inside the ear canal, which correspond to a human's heart rate. An algorithm can filter out background noise, providing solid data. This device would be most useful when paired with fitness activities, or a [cardio-tracking and/or exercise monitoring app](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airjump). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.3/10 - Popularity: 3% | Activity: 27% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Functional Earbuds:** The trend of turning earbuds into functional health monitoring devices opens up opportunities for integrating various health features into everyday wearable technology. - **Multitasking Health Monitoring:** The trend of multitasking health monitoring allows individuals to gather important health measurements while engaging in other activities, creating a more convenient and efficient user experience. - **Ear Canal Health Tracking:** The trend of tracking health indicators through ear canal vibrations presents opportunities for new health monitoring devices that can provide accurate and reliable data for multiple health applications. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Wearable Technology:** The wearable technology industry can explore integrating health monitoring features into earbud products, expanding the functionality and appeal of their devices. - **Wellness and Fitness:** The wellness and fitness industry can leverage earbud pulse monitors to enhance workout tracking and enable real-time heart rate monitoring during physical activities, empowering users to optimize their fitness routines. - **Healthcare Technology:** The healthcare technology industry can adopt earbud pulse monitors as a convenient and non-intrusive method for gathering real-time health data, improving patient monitoring and healthcare outcomes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Heart-Monitoring Earbuds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heartmonitoring-earbuds.md) - [Headphone-Shaped Vital Signs Monitors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vital-signs-monitors.md) - [Neurodegenerative Disease-Detecting Earbuds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hightech-earbuds.md) - [Ear Condition-Diagnosing Earbuds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/earhealth-earbuds.md) - [Virtual Heart Rate Monitors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heart-listener.md) - [Ear-Based Health Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-lumia-2.md) - [Heart Rate-Tracking Earbuds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beats-powerbeats-pro-2.md) - [Open-Ear Health-Tracking Earbuds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lolliclip.md) - [Pebble-Like Heart Health Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/super-stethoscope.md)