IEEE Signal Processing Society Blog

Wearable sensor technology has improved substantially in recent years – and the personalized healthcare movement is reaping the benefits. Specifically, advancements in miniaturization, smart materials, low-power consumption and ruggedness have transformed ubiquitous monitoring.

The rapid advancement and proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the past two decades significantly impacted how we do research. For instance, our research increasingly relies on growing computing power and storage capacity to gather and process the constant production of data - our observations of systems and phenomena we would like to understand, control, and improve.

Digital media, particularly audio, plays a prominent role in crime investigation whether it relates to someone admitting to a crime or exposing illegal dealings between multiple parties. Yet, society is quick to dismiss potential evidence from mainstream media, social media and other platforms. 

In 2008, United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago severely damaged Dave Carroll’s Taylor guitar worth $3,500. After nine months of unsuccessful pleas for compensation, Carroll wrote the song "United Breaks Guitars” – a YouTube hit with more than 17 million views. Four weeks later, the airline’s stock fell about 10 percent for a loss of $180 million.

Video distribution services have been growing exponentially in the past decade. Cisco Visual Network Index Report predicts that globally, IP video traffic will be 82 percent of all consumer Internet traffic by 2020, up from 70 percent in 2015. 

When you first hear the word “biometric,” it’s likely you make the connection to human beings. By definition, biometric means “life to measure.” There are many types of biometric characteristics, such as fingerprints, faces, eyes, speech and palmprints. Commonly used for individual recognition and authentication, these biometric characteristics comprise the biometric system.

Smartwatches and activity trackers were once a novelty. Now, they’re ubiquitous. According to the market research firm, CCS Insight, the market for smartwatches is expected to grow threefold over the next five years. 

What if we lived in a world without music?  It’s utterly unthinkable. Music has long been an important part of human life.  Researchers found human remain alongside flutes made from animal bones dating more than 40,000 years ago¹.  In ancient Greek mythology, muses were goddesses or water nymphs, inspiring humans in the fields of art and science, and spurring incredible developments².

The 2015 State of Broadband report produced by the UN Broadband Commission revealed 57 percent of the world’s people remain offline – unable to take advantage of the enormous economic and social benefits the internet offers.

Have you had an experience in an MRI scanner? Chances are you have or know someone who has. Magnetic Resonance Imaging produces detailed pictures of soft tissue in the human body – but, unlike many other techniques, it does not require any radiation.