A new Pebble smartwatch app can detect seizures, potentially saving lives in the process. But it's still far from perfect.
Called the Pebble Seizure Detect, the app is the brainchild of game developer Ryan Clark, according to New Scientist.
It reportedly makes use of the smartwatch's accelerometer to detect seizures and notify friends or family via text message, which includes the user's last known GPS location. There's also a panic button which users can press if they feel a seizure is imminent.
While seizure-detecting devices aren't new, Clark's app works with the more widely available Pebble smartwatch.
As for only working with Pebble, Clark told Huffington Post that it boils down to the device's cheaper price ($99.99) and its more open software architecture.
However, he did acknowledge that other smartwatches with more powerful hardware, such as heart rate sensors, would be ideal. As it stands though, such devices don't support open-source apps and are more expensive.
But Clark himself admitted his app is far from perfect. For starters, it could miss a seizure should the user's arm become trapped under the body.
As Huff Post pointed out, it isn't approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The app itself isn't available on the Pebble app store, which requires users to download and install themselves although instructions are provided.
Still, it's not like Pebble Seizure Detect is a total bust. Epilepsy Foundation COO Angela Ostrom told Huff Post it can be a huge help for people who experience seizures.
"The main goals of this app are to improve the safety of people with seizure disorders," Clark told the publication adding, "to give back a measure of independence and to give family and friends a way to help in times of need."
The Pebble Seizure Detect app works with any Pebble smartwatch. It's iOS compatible and should work on Android but it hasn't been tested yet. Download it here via Github.