Estimating Heart Rate from Inertial Sensors Embedded in Smart Eyewear: A Validation Study
Smart glasses are promising alternatives for the continuous, unobtrusive monitoring of heart rate (HR). This study validates HR estimates obtained with the “Essilor Connected Glasses” (SmartEW) during sedentary activities. Thirty participants wore the SmartEW, equipped with an IMU sensor for HR esti...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Sarah Solbiati Federica Mozzini Jean Sahler Paul Gil Bruno Amir Niccolò Antonello Diana Trojaniello Enrico Gianluca Caiani |
| author_facet | Sarah Solbiati Federica Mozzini Jean Sahler Paul Gil Bruno Amir Niccolò Antonello Diana Trojaniello Enrico Gianluca Caiani |
| author_sort | Sarah Solbiati |
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| description | Smart glasses are promising alternatives for the continuous, unobtrusive monitoring of heart rate (HR). This study validates HR estimates obtained with the “Essilor Connected Glasses” (SmartEW) during sedentary activities. Thirty participants wore the SmartEW, equipped with an IMU sensor for HR estimation, a commercial smartwatch (Garmin Venu 3), and an ECG device (Movesense Flash). The protocol included six static tasks performed under controlled laboratory conditions. The SmartEW algorithm analyzed 22.5 s signal windows using spectral analysis to estimate HR and provide a quality index (QI). Statistical analyses assessed agreement with ECG and the impact of QI on HR accuracy. SmartEW showed high agreement with ECG, especially with QI threshold equal to 70, as a trade-off between accuracy, low error, and acceptable data coverage (80%). Correlation for QI ≥ 70 was high across all the experimental phases (r<sup>2</sup> up to 0.96), and the accuracy within ±5 bpm reached 95%. QI ≥ 70 also allowed biases to decrease (e.g., from −1.83 to −0.19 bpm while standing), with narrower limits of agreement, compared to ECG. SmartEW showed promising HR accuracy across sedentary activities, yielding high correlation and strong agreement with ECG and Garmin. SmartEW appears suitable for HR monitoring in static conditions, particularly when data quality is ensured. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5aa5a6d44cb34edfa0c25bc879cd59d6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-5aa5a6d44cb34edfa0c25bc879cd59d62025-08-20T03:36:30ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-07-012515453110.3390/s25154531Estimating Heart Rate from Inertial Sensors Embedded in Smart Eyewear: A Validation StudySarah Solbiati0Federica Mozzini1Jean Sahler2Paul Gil3Bruno Amir4Niccolò Antonello5Diana Trojaniello6Enrico Gianluca Caiani7Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, MI, ItalyDepartment of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, MI, ItalyEssilorLuxottica, Smart Eyewear Lenses, Essilor International, 147 Rue de Paris, 94320 Créteil, FranceEssilorLuxottica, Smart Eyewear Lenses, Essilor International, 147 Rue de Paris, 94320 Créteil, FranceEssilorLuxottica, Smart Eyewear Lenses, Essilor International, 147 Rue de Paris, 94320 Créteil, FranceEssilorLuxottica, Smart Eyewear Lab, Piazzale Luigi Cadorna 3, 20123 Milan, MI, ItalyEssilorLuxottica, Smart Eyewear Lab, Piazzale Luigi Cadorna 3, 20123 Milan, MI, ItalyDepartment of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, MI, ItalySmart glasses are promising alternatives for the continuous, unobtrusive monitoring of heart rate (HR). This study validates HR estimates obtained with the “Essilor Connected Glasses” (SmartEW) during sedentary activities. Thirty participants wore the SmartEW, equipped with an IMU sensor for HR estimation, a commercial smartwatch (Garmin Venu 3), and an ECG device (Movesense Flash). The protocol included six static tasks performed under controlled laboratory conditions. The SmartEW algorithm analyzed 22.5 s signal windows using spectral analysis to estimate HR and provide a quality index (QI). Statistical analyses assessed agreement with ECG and the impact of QI on HR accuracy. SmartEW showed high agreement with ECG, especially with QI threshold equal to 70, as a trade-off between accuracy, low error, and acceptable data coverage (80%). Correlation for QI ≥ 70 was high across all the experimental phases (r<sup>2</sup> up to 0.96), and the accuracy within ±5 bpm reached 95%. QI ≥ 70 also allowed biases to decrease (e.g., from −1.83 to −0.19 bpm while standing), with narrower limits of agreement, compared to ECG. SmartEW showed promising HR accuracy across sedentary activities, yielding high correlation and strong agreement with ECG and Garmin. SmartEW appears suitable for HR monitoring in static conditions, particularly when data quality is ensured.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4531smart eyewearwearablesphysiological monitoringheart rateinertial measurement unitquality index |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Solbiati Federica Mozzini Jean Sahler Paul Gil Bruno Amir Niccolò Antonello Diana Trojaniello Enrico Gianluca Caiani Estimating Heart Rate from Inertial Sensors Embedded in Smart Eyewear: A Validation Study Sensors smart eyewear wearables physiological monitoring heart rate inertial measurement unit quality index |
| title | Estimating Heart Rate from Inertial Sensors Embedded in Smart Eyewear: A Validation Study |
| title_full | Estimating Heart Rate from Inertial Sensors Embedded in Smart Eyewear: A Validation Study |
| title_fullStr | Estimating Heart Rate from Inertial Sensors Embedded in Smart Eyewear: A Validation Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimating Heart Rate from Inertial Sensors Embedded in Smart Eyewear: A Validation Study |
| title_short | Estimating Heart Rate from Inertial Sensors Embedded in Smart Eyewear: A Validation Study |
| title_sort | estimating heart rate from inertial sensors embedded in smart eyewear a validation study |
| topic | smart eyewear wearables physiological monitoring heart rate inertial measurement unit quality index |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4531 |
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