Intrusive Technology?

Schoolchildren given heart-rate monitors to curb anti-social behavior

I write quite a bit about new healthcare technology and this article somewhat relates to some of the monitoring devices we are now seeing in healthcare. Schools in London are now testing the device that is strapped on to a child who is determined to be unruly. The devices are slated to also help the children recognize their own trigger points and better deal with their anger, something we as humans have done as parents and teachers, so now instead of perhaps a little human intervention, the child is now being left with a device to educate oneself instead of some nice warm direction from a human?

There are many such devices making their way in to our lives, non regulated as far as how they are used and perhaps not enough education out there to suggest how to perhaps effectively use such devices, such as home monitoring devices for seniors. Some of the information offered from devices is good, such as notifying of a fall for a caregiver as an example, but how far does it go to where the caregiver relies on the device and the whole idea of human interaction disintegrates?

Devices can be helpful, but hopefully not to the point where we forget how to bond as humans. If I were perhaps an unruly child myself, I might be entertaining how to “ditch” it, or somehow make sure it finds its way to the trash compactor. The related reading section has some posts about medical devices and what they can offer, but again the deal is are we using technology constructively, or simply putting a device in a place where normal human intervention might be better. There is nobody minding the store on much of it and there simply needs to be a balance and not a shift to hooking us up to devices that offer very little warmth and human interaction, and not just working to convey and institute the “big brother” society of information management. BD

The gadgets are normally used by athletes to track the intensity of their heart rate during exercise. But a health trust is now testing the devices to help measure the anger levels of children. They hope it will allow them to pre-empt playground fights and classroom disruption.

Children with behavioral problems aged seven to 15 wear the monitors strapped to their chest during lessons, break and at home with their families. Nurses and psychologists work out each child's "danger level" heart rate and the device bleeps when the level is reached. Teachers or parents alerted by the monitor can then take action to calm or distract the child.

Schoolchildren given heart-rate monitors to curb anti-social behaviour – Telegraph

Hat Tip: Medlaunches

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