Application of smartwatches to

monitor health of labor workers

By: Raquel Sapon, Augusto Manuel Juanino Lucas, Hassan
Haider, Collin Sims-Davenport

English 210
Dr. LeeAnn Rudd and Dr. Amy Hodges
Title: Applications of Biometric Sensors in detecting symptoms and conditions of Hypertension
Keywords: Biomedical Sensors, Arduino, MBED, Hypertension, Pressure sensor, Temperature
sensor, language feature, Doctor Feedback, Thermoelectric battery pack, ASAE

Summary of Application
This application proposes the idea of a biometric watch to monitor hypertension for the labor
worker population of Qatar using our idea of a biometric watch. The watch will have features that
monitor vital conditions, display counter measures depending on the health condition of the user,
transmit data to medical staff remotely for further evaluation, and runs on a thermoelectric power
source which will be further discussed in the body of the application. We estimated that for this idea
to become a reality, we need a budget of one hundred thousand dollars to build and market our
prototypes. To market our product, we will use focus groups, provide companies with sample
prototypes and attend marketing conferences to get an idea of the interest and scope of our product
amongst people. The report also includes a detailed business plan, benefits and risks of the
proposed solution.

Problem statement:
News related to violations of labor rights in Qatar was already floating in the international media,
and the situation escalated after Qatar won the bid in 2010 to hold the FIFA World cup in 2022.
Qatar became the center of attention for numerous online news agencies and NGOs due to
violations of labor rights. In 2013, the Amnesty International published reports detailing the abuses
against workers. The report included 12 confirmed death toll and thousands of Nepali workers
suffering from appalling conditions which lead to chronic, even deadly, health issues. Some factors
can be attributed to these risks such as poor working conditions and lack of adequate health
services. To tackle the health issue of the workers, the team has decided to build an effective
biometric health watch. Consequently, the team plans to include five main functionalities in the
biometric watch:

1. Detect and monitor vital health conditions.

2. Display possible countermeasures depending on the result of the detected conditions.
3. Transmit signal to the staff clinic for further evaluation and treatment.
4. Thermoelectric power source to power the watch using heat generated from the user's
body.
5. A language option feature containing all languages to choose from.
Unique Selling Point:
We believe the current available technology of smartwatches is very limited. The Apple watch,
Samsung Gear Fit, and the Garmin Vivoactive are devices that only monitor vital signs. The features
that distinguish our concept from the present smartwatches are as follows:

1. It is targeted towards one specific condition: hypertension.

2. The software we will use to configure the watch will consist of set parameters that will alert
the user automatically if there is a change in the user's vital signs, for example heart rate and
blood pressure. Consequently, the watch will provide measures to counteract the user`s
deteriorating health.
3. The watch will log data to a third party including medical staff on or off site so prompt action
can be taken when urgent professional attention is needed.
Business Plan
Executive Summary

The rise of biometric apparatuses can be integrated into the research portfolio of developed
countries such as Qatar due to increase in demand of medical services and the need for low-cost
solutions. Smart biomedical watches can be efficient tools to assist health personnel and reduce the
time and cost of diagnosing health patients. Most of the available smart trackers in the market tend
to be fitness trackers that only inform users of raw data such as pulse rate or number of miles ran.
As a result, the team has a vision of diversifying the biomedical device market and introducing new
and meaningful applications. Specifically, the team plans to build a smartwatch geared towards the
treatment of hypertension. The team initiated the proposed solution by archiving research
pertaining to biometric watches, current products on the market, health statistics and missing key
features. The team agreed on fabricating a smartwatch, but also adding extra features to increase
the functionality of the product.

The watch will contain several pH sensors to track blood pressure, skin temperature, and heart rate.
The watch will also utilize an Arduino processor to power up the watch and include various
functionalities. The first functionality revolves around monitoring vital health conditions. We plan to
supplement the basic feature with additional functionalities. Specifically, the proposed device will
interpret the results and will give relevant advice accordingly. Furthermore, the team will insert a
wireless communication module to transmit the results to nearby health clinics.

Project Plan

The team will allot a period of 48 weeks to complete the proposed solution. The team formulated
three main phases of the project.

Preliminary Research (8 weeks)

The first phase revolves around acquiring knowledge about the technical aspect of fabricating the
watch. The following will be the tentative schedule of the first phase:

1. Review published articles of similar projects. (2 weeks)

2. Archive research material. (1 week)
3. Get permission from Ministry of health in Qatar to conduct a survey, otherwise use social
media platforms including facebook and twitter to get an idea of the market. (1 week)
4. Inspect the current features of similar products. (0.5 weeks)
5. Determine the features that will be included in the device. (0.5 weeks)
6. Analyze and decide the components of the smartwatch. (1 week)
7. Order the relevant materials such as sensors and processors. (2-3 weeks)
Prototype Development (28 weeks)

The second phase will be centered around obtaining technical skills and fabrication of the watch.

1. Travel to Maryland for the ASAE conference to gain valuable technical insights (1 week)
2. Engage in workshops at QSTP to accrue technical skills (5 weeks)
3. Write the logic and flowchart of the code (4 weeks)
4. Assemble the core components of the watch (2 weeks)
5. Implement the code to the device using the processor (3 weeks)
6. Test the features of the watch (5 weeks)
7. Polish and debug the code (3 weeks)
8. Make changes to design of prototype as needed in the debugging phase (5 weeks)
Marketing Phase (12 weeks)

The last portion involves marketing of the product

1.Attend business workshops and marketing training (1 week)

2.Use focus groups to get opinion and prediction of market on the smartwatch (2 weeks)
3.Pitch the device to potential companies like Siemens (3 weeks)
4.Make video to promote our smartwatch and upload on https://www.kickstarter.com/ (1
week)
5. Attend marketing conferences including E-tail and Pubcon to market and sell prototypes of
the across the world (5 weeks)
Team Capabilities

To determine the strengths and weaknesses of our team, we used a comprehensive SWOT analysis.
Following are the attributes of our team that we discovered:

1. Three out of the four group members live on campus which makes communication efficient
and group meetings easy.
2. All the members in our team come from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds bringing
valuable assets such as connections and access to educational resources including subject
matter experts.
3. Our team is well-balanced since it consists of people in which everyone has a different
engineering background thus bringing forward a valuable set of technical skills.
The difference in educational background brings forth the following skillset:

1. Raquel Sapon - Prototype Designer.

2. Augusto Lucas - Computer Programmer.
3. Hassan Haider - Technical Architect.
4. Collin Sims-Davenport - Sales and Marketing representative.
All team members are college students who will be taking courses over the course of next year,
hence we will encounter situations when not all team members will be available to work on the
project. However, we agreed to compensate for a situation like this in the next group meeting by
prolonging the upcoming weekly meeting or by scheduling another meeting in the same week.
Furthermore, we plan to extend our technical knowledge to build a Minimum Value Prototype
(MVP) by utilizing training programs offered at Texas A&M university including coding an arduino
board and 3D printing.

Market assessment and competitiveness

In assessing the market, the team specifically focused on the healthcare programs geared towards
the workers. Furthermore, we also looked at the involvement of different institutions in monitoring
the health of the workers.

In the past years, Qatar did not have a guideline for providing health insurance to expatriates. The
employers have the power whether to provide medical care or not. The website hrw.org chronicled
the worsening conditions of the workers. Specifically, they noted how majority of workers get
deductions on healthcare and some of them lose their medical care entirely. However, this all
changed with the introduction of the mandatory blue-collar health insurance package for the
laborers during the end of 2015. Qatar foundation has been also stepping up its contributions
towards the workers. The Weill Cornell Medical School has been collaborating with the 2022 world
cup organizers to conduct pilot programs aimed at monitoring health of the workers. Specifically,
1000 labor workers are receiving health checks under the banner of the pilot program. The
organizers did not specify the frequency of the health checking, but they promised that their
initiative is part of a lengthy research to aid the workers. The world cup organizers have also stated
that the workers are being tested in terms of their diet, kidney function and blood pressure. Finally,
the Qatar Red crescent is asserting itself as major player in monitoring health conditions of the
workers. In May 2016, the Mesaimeer Workers Health Center was established by the Qatar Red
crescent. The center has capacity to receive 32000 personnel and three modern hospitals for the
workers. Hence to utilize and add to these current advancements in health care in Qatar, the team
feels that our biometric watch can be integrated into the current programs of health monitoring to
bolster efficiency and accessibility for the workers.

The aim of the smart health is to target the labor worker population of Qatar which according to
recent statistics show forms approximately 1.4 million out of Qatar's 2.5 million population. If the
prototype is developed for large scale manufacturing in Qatar, we believe this device will benefit the
following organizations.

1. Ministry of Foreign affairs, Qatar

2. National Human Rights Committee
3. International Labor Organization
Qatar has developed its healthcare system through the advancement of medical institutions like
Sidra Medical Center and HMC. The team aims to further the advancement of Qatar's medical
outlook by applying smart sensors in medical apparatuses. Previous research of sensors has proven
that implementation of biometric sensors can potentially be a low-cost alternative option. The
circulation of the smart devices can aid health professionals in diagnosing health conditions of the
workers. The low-cost aspect of the watch in conjunction with the laborers accounting for more than
half of Qatars population projects great appeal for the market investors.

The biometric market outlook in Qatar is in its infancy stages. The team is in an excellent position to
introduce the application of sensors in health technologies. Apart from several researches
conducted by universities under the banner of Qatar Foundation, the smart biometric watch has not
been commercialized. As a result, the team thinks the watch will be competitive in the state of
Qatar. Furthermore, our proposed solution aims to integrate the best functionalities of individual
products into a single biometric device. The power supply is another advantage of our product. The
thermoelectric pack alleviates the problem of discarding lithium batteries and the frequent use of
charging ports. Consequently, this reduces the production cost while improving its portability and
battery life.
Business Model

The team understands that engineering technicality alone wont define the parameters of success of
the watch. As such, we are committed in establishing a cohesive business model to analyze the
market structure, form key partnerships and predict revenue streams.

1. Key Partnerships and Resources:

Key Partner/Individual Key activity Key resource

Omron Supplier pH sensors

Arduino Supplier code processors

Matrix Industries Supplier thermoelectric pack

Dr. Amy Hodges Adviser technical research

Dr. John Brien Mentor Finance expert

Engr. Yasser Hamidi Mentor technical specialist

Table 2.0

Table 2.0 illustrates the key industries and individuals who can make the project feasible along with
their specialty and resource provided

2. Customer relationship and Value

The team would like to find an acceptable balance between improving workers` health while also
providing an affordable package to the labor company. Instead of selling the biometric watch in the
market of Qatar, we would like to directly sell it to companies employing labor workers, and let them
handle the distribution. To address the balancing issue, we will develop a device with appealing
content and useful features. We are examining the best features in similar products and melding
them into a single compelling watch. On the other hand, we will try to keep the cost at a reasonable
price to appeal to the company of the workers and ensure that all the workers will receive the
watch. Furthermore, we devised various tactics to establish customer relationship including giving
our targeted companies free samples of the watch for them to be able to test it themselves. Also, we
plan to hold focus group sessions to get an idea of the opinion of the public as well as their interest
in the smartwatch itself, therefore, enabling us to predict the market value of our watch as well. To
build lasting relationships with our customers, we will regularly send them updates and
advertisements using email and other contact details.

3. Cost and Revenue stream

Our primary goal is to create a durable, yet affordable watch. As a result, we carefully analyzed the
cost of materials and picked the most cost-efficient yet durable options. We also decided that we
will allocate a majority proportion of the materials cost to the internal components such as the
sensors and modules (38, 900 dollars). Furthermore, we picked thermoelectric as our power supply
to eliminate the creation of proprietary charger. We intend to travel to conferences to accrue
technical knowledge and skill sets (6,068 dollars). Regarding the revenue stream, our main goal is to
create the product and possibly give free samples to companies to build its credibility. In the startup
phase of the watch, we will need a funding of at least a hundred thousand dollars to fabricate
enough prototype for reliable research and development. We will also travel to marketing
conferences including E-tail and Pubcon so we can get exposure and show the prototypes to
companies to score potential clients (20,000 dollars). After 2-3 years of exposure, we plan to sell it to
the companies at a wider scope. We expect to gain the starting capital by three years and hopefully
gain profits starting the 4th year of circulation.

External dependencies

Our plan through this process is to create partnerships with separate companies to help put
together these multiple technologies. The most important of these companies will consist of:

1. Matrix Industries
a. Thermoelectric power supply technologies
2. Omron Healthcare
a. Health systems and vitals check technology
3. Arduino
a. Technological board to incorporate all technologies together
The team will send a promissory letter to the ministry of health to avoid complications
regarding inviting test subjects for the product. Consequently, the team will use third party
intellectual properties from the companies listed above. Furthermore, the team plans to
invite consultants and specialists to assist in completing the project. Specifically, we will
seek guidance from Engr. Yasser Hamidi for technical support and from Dr. John Brien for
marketing strategies.
Timeline and Milestones
 Budget

Category Number of items Price (USD) per item Total (USD)

Material Cost

1. Inflatable Band 20 100 2000

2. Faceplate with screen 20 20 400

3. Arduino Kit 20 80 1600

4.Thermoelectric pack 20 50 1000

5.Wireless modules 20 15 300

6.OLED touch screen 20 30 600

7.Pressure sensors 20 100 2000

8.Heat sensor 20 150 3000

9.Pulse Sensors 20 150 3000

10. Integrated circuits board 20 50 1000

11.Aluminium casing of the watch 20 50 1000

12.Assembly of the watch 20 1000 20,000

Personnel Cost Price (USD)/person

1.Compensation 4 1000 4000

2.Food and other miscellaneous 4 5000 20000

Research Cost

1.Conference Fee 4 217 868

2. Travel Fee 4 1300 5200

Shipping Cost of materials

1.Budget allocated to shipments varies 3000

Total Cost 68,968

Notes on budget:

The overall cost turns out to be 68,968 US dollars.

The team decided to have a personnel cost of 1000 dollars for each to increase motivation
for the project.
The food and other miscellaneous cost is 5000 dollars each member for the entire duration
of the project specifically allocated for project related expenses including attending
conferences abroad.
Due to limited resources in Qatar, we predict that we will have to order the above-
mentioned materials from abroad, hence, we allocated a budget of 3000 dollars to cover the
shipment costs during the course of this project.
The assembly phase of the prototypes will involve industrial machinery and manual labor,
therefore, we will have to rent or place orders to outside companies to build segments of
the watch and combine them, hence, we allocated a budget of 20,000 dollars for this phase.
The remaining budget will be used as a source of emergency funding in case our projected
budget falls short of the actual budget. Furthermore, it will be used to compensate for any
losses or damages that can occur during shipment or assembly of the watch.

Current Technology:
Smart biomedical devices rely heavily on embedded system, multi-sensing platforms and a processor
to implement the code. The team aims to follow schematics of currently available devices such as
the Apple watch while adding new features to distinguish our product. To address the sensing
platform, we plan to implement the following sensors and their utilities:

The pressure sensor - aims to detect blood pressure

The pulse sensor - scans heart rate
The heat sensor - detects body temperature
Consequently, the team will integrate a wireless communication module to enable the transmission
of data and results to the nearest staff clinic. Furthermore, the team will purchase an Arduino kit and
processor to execute the algorithm and code logic and to tighten the structure of the device. Finally,
the team agreed upon choosing thermo-electric as the main power supply of the biometric device.
The team will contact Matrix industries for harnessing the power supply.

Potential
The proposed solution aims to have features distinguishable from similar competitors. Most
biometric devices focus on monitoring vital statistics and transmission of data. On the other hand,
our device will include a feedback functionality that promises to formulate tips and suggestions
based on the results gathered from the device. Furthermore, the proposed solution will utilize
thermoelectric power supply which is a relatively new form of power. Essentially, we are taking the
best features of biometric devices and smartphones and combining these features into a single
smart watch. Finally, the team believes that the features will be distinguishable enough to generate
new intellectual properties.
Existing Intellectual Property
The proposed biometric device will use the following intellectual property specified in the table:

Item/component Company/Inventors Patent No.

Biometric Sensors Martin W. Roche EP 2929836 A1

Wireless Module Koninklijke Philips NV WO 2014097070 A1

Health Tracker Fitbit INC. US D749002 S1

Microprocessors Hiroyuki Kondo US 6401197 B1

Integrated circuits board Yun Feng Electronics CN 203941072 U

Blood pressure tracker Omron CN 101790348 A

Resource requirements
Following includes the list of resources we need access to implement our design:

1. A 3D printer and a technician who will be able to help us fabricate our prototype.
2. Access to CAD software, specifically SolidWorks, so we can design our prototype and the
appropriate technical staff who will be able to guide us in making changes to our design.
3. Access to Arduino programming language including an Arduino board which will be used in
the prototype as well a subject matter expert who can train and help us if needed.
4. Access to the Mechanical Engineering department`s 3D printing laboratory.
Current Available resources:
One of the most crucial resource that we have is having access to an extensive library containing
relevant databases. Consequently, because of the similar projects available in the market right now,
we can attain a clear idea on the skeleton of the watch and the necessary software to complete it.
The team has access to up to date software including Arduino, MBED and a budget that will allow us
to place orders of biometric sensors such as Pressure Sensor and Temperature sensor. The team will
spend some of the budget in participating in workshops and conferences abroad. Furthermore, the
team will discuss with several engineers on how to create the biometric watch. Finally, the team will
utilize the world class lab facilities available in Texas A&M, specifically computer lab 241G to design
our prototype and 3D printing lab in the mechanical department so we can fabricate our design.

Project risks and mitigation plan

a. Technology risks/limitations: Most of our problems stem from our inexperience with the
prerequisite software. The project requires prerequisite knowledge of coding and
understanding processors. We would need to devote a large proportion of our time in
technical research to reduce potential technological limitations. We would also need to
participate in hands-on activity and workshops to minimize gaps of inexperience. The
thermoelectric power source is a relatively new concept. Hence, ample research has not yet
been performed to see how it would handle in extreme weather conditions. To ensure the
 power source does not become a hazard, we will test it by exposing it to severe weather
conditions in a controlled environment. If the results from the experiment are conclusive i.e.
it can handle the conditions it is exposed to, we will use this as a power. Otherwise, we will
switch to a conventional battery.
b. Health and Safety Risk: For the customers, there is a slight possibility of health risk involved.
Having an inflatable band for the watch, a problem could arise from the inflatable band
getting stuck and cutting off the circulation of the wearer. We plan to account for this by
having routine updates to the software, much like that of phones. Furthermore, the team
will conduct product testing by inviting several workers. The experiments would be to
ensure that different sizes will be available to avoid loss of circulation and redesign the
watch band in case it does cut of circulation. We will include an easily detachable pin used to
connect the watch to the band to prevent stoppage of blood circulation.
c. Business Risks: The industry of electronic health platforms has boomed since 2014.
Consequently, there are a plethora of established products flooding the market. The main
issue revolves around a company taking a risk in our potential product when there are
established products in the market. We intend to introduce new features for the watch to
differentiate our product from the standard trend.
d. Resource Risks: Delays in getting the equipment can significantly hamper the team timeline
and morale of the group. We aim to follow a GANTT chart to aid us in keeping track of
relevant issues and tasks. We intend to use priority shipping to expedite arrival of the
components. If the equipment gets delayed, then we would adjust our GANTT chart and
focus would be shifted to polishing other crucial parts of the projects. Furthermore, the
teams proposed power supply is a relatively new piece of technology. As such, there is a
possibility that the team won't obtain the power supply. To mitigate the problem, we will
frequently contact the distributors.
Benefits of the proposed solution to Qatar and the region in alignment with the 2022 FIFA
World cup:
Human and Social benefits:
1. Integrating our watch in the safety gear of labor workers will satisfy the health and safety
aspect of Qatar`s vision for 2022. Qatar`s goal to provide a healthy working environment will
be ensured by providing welfare for the labor workers who are currently exposed to severe
hot and dusty weather. In addition, this watch can also benefit the middle east region as it
can be used for health monitoring daily by anyone.
Environmental benefits:
1. Reduces landfill - Use of thermoelectric power source decreases landfill because unlike
conventional batteries that need to be disposed of after complete usage, our watch will
charge using the heat generated from the human body.
2. Reduces atmospheric pollution - Because there is no disposal of batteries, toxic chemicals
including lithium are completely stopped from entering the atmosphere thus fulfilling
Qatar`s 2022 sustainability vision.
Hence the above-mentioned benefits fulfill Qatar`s 2022 vision of creating a sustainable and healthy
working environment for its people.
Disclaimer confirming accuracy and uniqueness
I, ............., ., ................., and ... pledge that all information present in this report
is unique and accurate. We were cautious to ensure that no content in this report was copied or
written by someone other than the group members themselves. The tasks assigned to each group
member were completed and are the work of the group member himself or herself to the best of his
or her abilities.

Research Grants
Augusto Lucas has been chosen to partake in a UREP project entitled Smart wearable sensing
platform with wireless communication and embedded processing for Health monitoring
applications. He acquired the grant in September of 2016 under the guidance of Dr. Amine Bermak.
Augustos team is supervised by Dr.Amine Bermak of HBKU and Dr. Qammer Abbasi of TAMUQ. The
research phase started in March 2017 and is in the prototype development stage. The member is
working with three other undergraduate students, and two postdoctoral students.

Compliance of ethical standards

The team will closely adhere to the framework outlined by the supreme council of health. The
framework established the Qatar research committee to implement the policies effectively. The
team plans to invite several workers to test the functionalities and appeal of the product. To
supplement the teams level of compliance to ethical standards, we will provide a statement of
promise and certificate of assurance to uphold the provisions in the framework of the Supreme
Council of Health.
Export Control Restrictions
The team will hand out waivers to the key mentors and advisers at the beginning of the project. The
waiver is intended to protect their ideas and adheres to the export control restriction under the
bylaws of the state of Qatar.