Nokia's Eco Sensor senses the environment
December 12, 2007

Eco Sensor is a future possible accessory from Nokia, intended to be able to monitor health, weather and other factors of the surroundings.

Lately, Nokia has put environmental issues in focus when launching new products. Nokia Eco Sensor is also launched by stressing among other things the possible positive effects that could be achieved if and when it hits the market. So far this add-on is only in the concept stages at Nokia's research centre.

Eco Sensor is intended to be an add-on to an ordinary phone carried around one's neck or around the wrist. It contains a number of sensors that can scan certain variables of the user or the surrounding environment. Exactly what should be measures is up to the buyer, who should be able to determine herself what sensors the accessory should be equipped with. For instance it would be possible to keep track of the air pollution levels or UV radiation. It could also keep track of hart beats or detect loud noise levels.

The sensor should be of an environmentally friendly material reused and biodegradable. The energy to run the sensor could possibly come from solar cells placed on the neck band or from kinetic or heat energy created by the user.

The sensor will communicate with the user's phone and other units via NFC and RFID technology, two techniques to transfer information over short distances. The information gathered by the sensors could be shared on the mobile network, and it is probably that way Nokia imagines the use will increase the global environmental awareness, making it possible to check values from other parts of the world.

By: Henrik Thoresson, Jonas Kämpe