Harmful radiation: Researchers develop UV sensor for smartwatches
When the sun is shining, it's essential to pay attention to the amount of UV radiation; otherwise, you risk sunburn or more serious health risks. A sensor in smartwatches could soon warn you of intense UV radiation.
Smartwatches can measure many health factors; another sensor may be added soon. Researchers from South Korea have developed a detector for UV-A radiation from the sun, designed to be ideal for devices such as smartwatches or smartphones. This means users cannot rely on the weather forecast's UV predictions, but can measure themselves.
For this purpose, the UV-A sensor developed is thin, lightweight, and transparent. This means it could be integrated into the display of a smartwatch, for example.
The photodiode detects the amount of radiation and sends a signal via Bluetooth to a receiver device. The detector data was transmitted to a smartphone app in the researchers' experimental setup.
The study authors wrote that the sensor could be seamlessly integrated, "especially in mobile devices such as smartwatches and glasses, or attached to the skin, wherever a transparent UV detector is needed." Previous UV sensors mostly use opaque metal layers and are therefore unsuitable for compact mobile devices.
The UV sensor still needs to become more effective
UV-A radiation has a wavelength range of 315 to 400 nm and penetrates deep into the skin. UV-A and the shorter-wavelength UV-B radiation can lead to skin cancer, but UV-A accounts for 95 per cent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation that reaches the ground. Therefore, detecting UV-A radiation is essential for preventive health care.
The researchers' UV sensor doesn't yet cover all wavelengths of the UV-A spectrum equally well. However, the study states that it already provides excellent 340 to 350 nm measurements. With further improvements in effectiveness, it's not unlikely that the sensor will soon appear in mobile devices. In the researchers' home country of South Korea, the Samsung Galaxy Watch would naturally be a prime candidate.
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