1. Computer science and health complement each other gracefully. By applying programming to any subject/category, extraordinary accomplishments can be attained. Programming a tool for a subject/category changes the perspective of the audience and can be applied technologically throughout the world. Technology through computer programming has changed the way people look at various subjects ranging from mathematics to language. According to Westly, instead of waiting for symptoms to appear again, patients could use the app to keep a daily record of their heart rhythm, which they could either send to their doctor or bring to their next appointment, "This could be a tremendously powerful tool for monitoring arrhythmia," McManus says, "There's no added hardware, and it makes use of a device that a lot of folks have,” (2012). The pulse reading application is a money saver and can open up new pathways the technological application of health. The hardware required for this application does not need to be bought separately; it all comes with the smartphone. Programming is what makes the hardware on smartphones very useful. Smartphones have become available worldwide and accessible by many people. According to Gutman, more than 600,000 new devices run the Google Android operating system (mostly smart phones) (2011). Android is an OS (Operating System) for a smartphone; such as Windows 7 is an OS for a computer. An Android application (“app” for short) was developed allowing the end-user to measure their heart rate using the camera attached to the smartphone. This process of measuring the user’s heart rate can be carried out in a multitude of ways. According to Shah, when a user places their index finger over the camera lens, the app will supposedly be able to detect slight changes in skin color as oxygenated blood passes through with each heartbeat, and can use this color change to determine heart rate (2010). What this project focused on is using the camera of a smartphone device to calculate the user’s heart rate and calorie per hour burn rate. The concept behind how the measuring of the user’s heart rate is very simple. Every time your heart beats, a subtle pulse gets registered in your index finger. This pulse is not usually strong enough to be detected by human senses; therefore smartphone cameras are more suitable for such a job. To detect this subtle change, a program is made to decipher what the camera sees using algorithms (methods that can carry out heavy duties) and out pops up the user’s heart rate. Programmed Android App To Use Smartphone Camera To Calculate Heart Rate Via Index Finger Design Goal The purpose of this project was to make use of the special features available for Android smartphones and eventually tablets. The goal in mind was to take the concept of how you can measure your heart rate using some sort of a heart rate monitor, and integrate this concept into the Android smartphone devices. Instead of manually measuring your heart rate and/or calculating how many calories per hour you burn, you can have your phone do all of the work. You can also save your calorie per hour burn rate in a specified history for a specific user. The option available for the saved users is to view a graph of your saved history. I wanted there to be a purpose to why users should have to use this application in their everyday lives or a reason to why they should download it. Future Improvements Future improvements on my project will include the integration of social networks. This will allow them to share their progress right from their phone. People’s reliability on Facebook, twitter, etc. is increasing more and more, thus this integration will make my app more audience friendly. Another improvement will include decreasing the amount of time that an accurate heart rate can be shown. Introduction References Brand guidelines. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://developer.android.com/distribute/googleplay/promote/brand.html Brand permissions center. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/brandpermissions/logos.phphttp://www.facebook.com/brandpermissions/logos.php Gutman, R. (2011, June 10). How technology has changed the way we access health. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ron-gutman/internet-health_b_872591.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/ron-gutman/internet-health_b_872591.html RelaxNews, A. (2012, August 15). New heart-rate monitor works by scanning your face. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/new-heart-rate-monitor-works-scanning-face-article- 1.1136876http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/new-heart-rate-monitor-works-scanning-face-article- 1.1136876 Saracut, F. (2012, June 22). Mobile apps to keep you in good health. Retrieved from http://blog.mobiversal.com/mobile-apps-to-keep-you-in-good-health-2.html Shah, S. (2010, September 01). Instant heart rate turns your android phone into a heart rate monitor. Retrieved from http://medgadget.com/2010/09/instant_heart_rate_turns_your_android_phone_into_a_heahttp://medgadget.com/2010/09/instant_heart_rate_turns_your_android_phone_into_a_heart_rate_monitor_1.html Twitter trademark and content display policy. (n.d.).Retrieved from https://twitter.com/logo Westly, E. (2011, October 14). Smart-phone app tracks heart rate. Retrieved from http://www.technologyreview.com/news/425758/smart-phone-app-tracks-heart-rate/ Conclusion Consequently, technology has raised the bar at how subjects such as health, math, science, etc., can be portrayed to people. According to data received by Float Mobile Learning, 40% of doctors believe that using mobile health technologies such as apps that monitor fitness and calorie consumption can reduce the number of office visits needed by patients (2012). Doctors recommend the use of technology to monitor and record the health of patients because of its efficiency. Technology has taken healthcare to a new level, a level of interaction that was never thought of before. According to Float Mobile Learning, about 88% of doctors are in full support of patients monitoring their health at home (2012). Developing a smartphone app that measures the user’s heart rate could replace technology used for the same purpose but are highly exorbitant. “Ki Chon, a biomedical engineer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the lead researcher on the study [of the app that detects heart rate and breathing rate], envisions the technology helping the elderly monitor their vital signs at home or in assisted living facilities. (Westly, 2012). This app could be used when a user wants to know how hard their body is working out. It is very helpful to low risk patients that can benefit from monitoring their heart rate using their smartphone device. Data These heart rate tests were conducted using my application and manual measurement. As you can see, there is a small margin of error. Code int pixel = (((r >> 3) > 2) > 3) << 0)); int red = (pixel >> 16) & 0xff0; int green = (pixel >> 8) & 0xff; int total = red + green; sum += total; This piece of code calculates the pixel values. After calculating a new integer variable, red, is created and stores all of the red pixels. Last, the red variable gets stored and incremented in the sum variable. This piece of code determines the average amount of red pixels in the image. public static int interpretPreviewToRedAverage(byte[] preview, int width, int height) { if (preview == null) return 0; final int frameSize = width * height; int sum = interpretPreviewToRedSum(preview,width,height); return (sum / frameSize); }