How do we erase the green light bias in smartwatches and create a wearable that delivers equal heart data to all?

By harnessing the power of sound.

EQL BAND is the world’s first smartwatch band using sound smart technology to accurately hear all heartbeats equally, regardless of skin tone.

We redesigned the smartwatch band you wear every day, placed a listening device inside, and added soundproofing. While most smartwatches use green light technology that is not accurate for everyone, we used sound to measure heart rate for people of all skin tones. EQL BAND technology pairs with any smartwatch.

The EQL BAND prototype innovation aims to silence the bias in smartwatches and is an invitation to everyone—big health tech companies, engineers, organizations, and every smartwatch user—to band together to create equal health data for all.

There is increasing evidence about how green light technology is not accurate for people with darker skin tones, yet this is often underreported. While some health tech companies have added features to help erase the bias, it’s been more of a band-aid versus a solution. The result: people of color are being left behind in science and health.

In exploring new innovations to erase the bias in smartwatches, we uncovered electret microphone technology can accurately measure heart rate. By using the power of sound, we are able to measure heart rate, regardless of skin tone.

But, we needed to overcome multiple limitations:

• How do we isolate and amplify radial artery frequency of 1-2 Hz—

a sound undetectable to the human ear?

• How do we protect ambient noise from interfering in heart rate detection?

• Where do we house our listening technology, while ensuring a seamless user experience?

The campaign is live and the EQL BAND prototype is in development.

2023:

LIA - Silver in Health & Wellness Prototype

LIA - Gold, Design Prototype

LIA - Gold, Product Innovation

LIA - Silver, Health and Wellness Innovation

Cannes - Shortlisted

2024:

Manny’s - Best Medial Device

NY Health Festival - Gold, Device and Diagnostic Products

NY Health Festival - Gold, Digital Mobile

In my role as senior copywriter, I worked closely with the full team and creative leaders on all aspects of this campaign. The incredible team is listed below:

Kathleen Nanda FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company Chief Creative Officer
Sommer Bazuro IPG HealthChief Medical Officer
Chido TsemunhuIPG HealthDirector, Corporate Communications and Public Relations
Alexis Moses FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company Sr. Creative Engineer
Joe Theoharakis FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company Creative Engineer
Joseph Graiff FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company SVP, Director, Creative Engineering
Bibi Brink FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company SVP, Creative Director
Lisa Lim FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company SVP, Creative Director
Yzabelle Munson FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company VP, Creative Director
Everett Aldritch FCB Health New York, an IPG Health CompanySr. Integrated Designer
Natalie Nascenzi FCB Health New York, an IPG Health CompanySr. Copywriter
Andrew Pearson Studio Rx, an IPG Health CompanyExecutive Producer
Dorothy Saint Jean Studio Rx, an IPG Health CompanyVP, Executive Producer
James Towning FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company Editor / Motion Graphics Artist
Joel Sterns Studio Rx, an IPG Health CompanyAudio Engineer
Kenfai Lee Studio Rx, an IPG Health CompanyMotion Graphics Artist
Bryan Saunders Studio Rx, an IPG Health CompanyVideo Editor
Franky Zhang FCB Health New York, an IPG Health CompanyDesigner
Pedro RicciGama FCB Health New York, an IPG Health CompanyDesigner
Shaheed Peera FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company Global Executive Creative Director
Bryan Gaffin FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company EVP, Executive Creative Director
Erico Braga FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company SVP, Group Creative Director of Craft & Art
Emily Roche FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company Sr. Integrated Producer
Karisa Williams FCB Health New York, an IPG Health Company Director, Integrated Production
David Tlatelpa Studio Rx, an IPG Health CompanySVP, Director of Technology
Minzhi Cao Studio Rx, an IPG Health Company