STORY: At a construction site in Ayase, Japan, these workers are told to take a sweat break.
:: Ayase, Japan
Each worker wears a smartwatch-shaped device.
It measures the potentially surprising amount of sweat they lose on the job.
When high or abnormal levels of dehydration are detected, automatic alerts are sent telling them to rest and have a drink.
Japan is grappling with record temperatures, endangering the health of people working outdoors.
“You really worry a lot about when you’re going to get heat stroke while you’re working outside.”
With earlier detection, employees hope to be safe on the job.
:: Health in the future
Hideya Momose, together with the Nagano-based technology company Skinos, is behind the SKWL-1000.
He’s been tracking data from the construction site since releasing the wearable technology earlier this summer.
:: Hideya Momose, CEO, Skinos
“There are many people who lose four or five liters through sweating, but surprisingly many people only drink around a liter of water so the risk of dehydration is very high. We believe that the risk of heatstroke can be reduced by using this device to ensure that people stay hydrated while working.”
The device combines a hygrometer to measure air humidity with a heart rate monitor, an accelerometer and a skin temperature sensor.
MOMOSE: “When sweat comes out of the skin, the surrounding air becomes more humid, and it is that humidity that the sensor measures.”
This data can then be sent via Bluetooth for remote monitoring, while alerting the wearer.
It features a color-coded system that highlights users’ current level of dehydration.
Back at the construction site, Shinpei Suzuki says they’re taking the tech’s advice.
:: Shinpei Suzuki, construction site manager
“Now we use this monitoring device. We take breaks and drink fluids based on the readings from the device.”