Imagine a swimmer listening to music streamed from a waterproof smartphone that is also being used to their monitor heart rate, temperature, stress or location. At the end of the swim, the user can see a log of the number of strokes, speed, acceleration and depth. This is possible for the first time, thanks to Edinburgh-based underwater electronics company WFS Technologies opening up its wireless communications technology to the commercial marketplace. WFS Technologies, UK, has established itself in Seatooth technology, a through-water wireless communications system. Up until now, this has been mostly used in the offshore and defence sectors. Seatooth technology, however, can be equally applied to smartphones, smart watches and wrist-based performance monitors. Much has been said about the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT). This describes the process of embedding sensors and electronics into physical objects and allowing them to communicate with each other. Seatooth Technology, however, heralds the ‘Subsea Internet of Things’, according to Brendan Hyland, chairman of WFS Technologies. This is based on devices and sensors enabled with Seatooth technology, that can stream data, voice and video, extending IoT into water sports, environmental monitoring and commercial activities. In working with some of the world’s leading consumer product innovators, WFS foresees the delivery of Subsea Internet of Things technology right into the hands of the public. Mr Hyland explains that at one time, the telephone was just used to communicate verbally. Today, it does far more than that: it is an enabler of applications. It plays music, plots location, measures fitness and much more. Seatooth technology extends many of these applications into the underwater world. Its use is only limited by the imagination. It not only has exercise benefits, but also has potential life-saving ramifications.
Seatooth technology, a through-water wireless communications system, is being opened up to commercial applications by WFS Technologies. The system, which has primarily been used in the offshore and defence sectors, could now be applied to smartphones and smart watches to create waterproof health devices. A new generation of smartwatches will also have built-in sensors that can monitor heart rate and oxygen levels as well as provide information on how much exercise people are doing.