Re: Deathwatch

Brian D Williams (talon57@well.com)
Tue, 12 Aug 1997 13:22:38 -0700 (PDT)

From: "den Otter" <otter@globalxs.nl>

>The the development of a (there you have it!) *deathwatch*. You
>know, the device that's been discussed here before (or was it on
>CryoNet?) with GSM/GPS, ultra-sensitive microphone pulse
>measuring, (burst) warning signal, a buzzer, a heartbeat
>recognition chip, maybe even voice activation and communication
>possibilities, water tight, shock proof etc etc. This little gem
>could *really* make a difference, because it would watch over you
>night and day, 7 days a week, etc. No more "sneakin' a death"
>(dying in bed is in fact one of the greatest risks for a
>cryonicist. It could be hours, maybe even days before someone
>finds you. Your poor brain must be mush by then, especially in the
>winter (!)

There has been a variation of the familiar animal tracking collar
in use for a number of years called a "Mortality Transmitter."

I remember it from a study a few years back where they put them on
young moose as I recall. The transmitters would activate after a
preset time of no movement. The interesting part was that
helicopters dispatched to locate the transmitters often found a
black bear over the carcass, subsequent investigation indicated
that the black bears were far more formidable predators than
previously thought, and not mere scavengers.

Of course this is just more ivory tower ideological crap... ;)

Brian

I particularly liked the idea of the device buzzing within a
certain range of another device, just like on "Highlander" when two
immortals are near.