Automotive Health: The Fusion of Automobile and Healthcare
Automotive Health and InCar-Wellbeing for health promotion and prevention
As a result of demographic changes, the proportion of older people in the population is growing in many regions of the world. At the same time, more and more people are suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. These two developments pose a challenge for national healthcare systems. However, the healthcare industry sees further market opportunities in this, as health and well-being are essential basic needs that must be satisfied.
Therefore, there is a constant search for new therapies, products, and services to improve the physical and mental health of people. Given the described developments, the age and disease risk of vehicle occupants is increasing, which suggests that the health and wellness industry will also develop innovative products and services for the automotive sector. These new technologies are called Automotive Health and InCar-Wellbeing. What do these terms stand for and what can we expect?
Car as a comfort oasis
The car of the future knows exactly how the occupants feel physically and mentally. It measures the vital signs of the passengers and offers tips for increased well-being on request. The vehicle analyzes, for example, the heart rate, breathing rhythm, blood oxygen level, and blood sugar level. The boundaries between health and wellness functions are fluid:
If the passenger is stressed, the car starts the massage function and adjusts aromatherapy, mood lighting, and soundscapes exactly in a way that relaxation occurs. The external noises can be eliminated through the noise-cancelling driver's cabin, and the circulation can be regulated based on the heart rate values via sensors on the steering wheel. To prevent dry mucous membranes, a sensor measures the humidity and maintains it at a healthy level. Additionally, an oxygen monitor in the steering wheel tracks the blood oxygen level, after which the oxygen level can be adjusted.
The vehicle as a mobile doctor's office
In the event of serious health issues or dangers, the onboard computer will sound an alarm. The Eye Monitoring assistance system uses a camera to monitor the driver's blinking. If signs of fatigue are detected, the car recommends the driver to take a break. When the external cameras detect indications of an impending collision, an alarm is automatically triggered. The attention assistant analyzes the driver's condition based on data such as driving behavior and speed to check if concentration is waning.
If signs of fatigue are present, the car activates an alarm and suggests taking a break. A blood sugar measurement, which also operates via sensors in the steering wheel, can provide important data for analysis. The onboard computer can then warn of a too low blood sugar level and suggest stops at rest areas or gas stations. Patients with diabetes can benefit from this technology to monitor their current condition even while driving.
Wellness, health check-up and accident prevention
InCar-Wellbeing and Automotive Health can help improve the health and comfort of vehicle occupants and, more importantly, prevent or at least reduce accidents. Even though some of the technologies presented are still futuristic, it is clear where the journey is heading: InCar-Wellbeing and Automotive Health will be integral parts of the connected car in the future.
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