Could this smartwatch prevent road accidents? Wristband monitors a driver and vibrates if they start falling asleep

It is estimated that one in five accidents on motorways are caused by people falling asleep at the wheel.

But a new watch that vibrates to stop divers nodding off on long journeys – and people falling asleep during tedious meetings – could help to keep you alert and safer.

The device, which is yet to be launched, looks like a normal wrist watch but features sensors that can tell if the wearer is awake.

 

If someone wearing the Spark Watch starts to nod off, the built-in motion detectors will activate a vibrating motor, which will start buzzing.

The watch contains two motion sensors that detect movement velocity and frequency. The data collected is processed by a unique algorithm to judge the wearer’s conscious state.

While the vibration generated when a wearer nods off is painless, it is persistent and will continue until the wearer of the watch is awake.

The gadget runs on a lithium-ion battery and lasts between five to seven days on a single charge. It has a micro USB port for charging when needed.