Stethoscope 2.0? A Brief History of Unlikely Smart Devices

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The Core stethoscope. (Photo: Eko Core)

Consider the humble stethoscope. Invented in the early 19th century, it’s one of history’s most enduring examples of simple, efficient analog technology. Doctors use its acoustic amplification properties to listen to your heart, your lungs, whatever. It’s been around for 200 years, and it ain’t broke. So why fix it?

Because it’s the Digital Age, that’s why!

This week the FDA announced approval of the Eko Core, a digital medical device that essentially functions as the stethoscope 2.0. It’s not the first “smart” stethoscope, but it is the first to wirelessly connect to a doctor’s smartphone app and incorporate storage and database options for heartbeat recordings.

The concept of a smart stethoscope actually makes a lot of sense, at least according to the company’s promotional materials and the doctors endorsing the system therein. But the relatively short history of smart devices is already full of many odd examples in which unlikely everyday objects are being rendered suddenly smart.

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The Ove smart toilet. (Photo: Costco)

Take the smart toilet. Please. These high-functioning appliances are actually all the rage in Japan, where it’s estimated that 70 percent of households have so-called enhanced toilets. (About 30 percent have dishwashers.) The really deluxe smart toilets come with apps and wireless remote options for triggering bidet, dryer, and even customized music options. Also, you might want to sit down for this. Or not. Smart toilets can be hacked.

Then there’s the curious case of the smart coffee cup. (The temptation, when transitioning from toilets to coffee cups, is to make a joke about output devices and input devices — but we’re trying to run a classy operation here.)

The forthcoming smart cup called Vessyl isn’t just for coffee, actually. It’s a very Zen-looking 13-ounce opaque cup that identifies any drink put into it and even displays nutritional information like calories or caffeine content. It can discern juice from soda, say, and even identify specific flavors and brand names. It also syncs with your phone and any other activity trackers you might have.

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The Vessyl smart cup. (Photo: Vessyl)

I’m curious about the technology behind this, but must conclude that my need for a smart beverage cup is pretty low. The cup has been around a long time. It’s doing all right. Also, I generally already know what I’m drinking out of any given cup — junior year of college being a notable exception.

Click around a little and you can find dozens of instances of stalwart everyday items being cognitively upgraded and transformed into dubious smart devices. Smart pants, for instance. Or smart bras. Smart basketballsSmart mattresses. Smart pet-food bowls. Smart pacifiers. Even smart tattoos.

Yes, the Internet of Things is supposed to be our manifest destiny and all, but maybe it’s time to put on the brakes a little. Some things are supposed to be dumb — doornails and bags of hammers, to name two. Anyway, if you want to learn more about that smart stethoscope coming to a doctor near you, you can follow up here.

Glenn McDonald writes about the intersections of technology and culture at glenn-mcdonald.com and via Twitter @glennmcdonald1.