You’re probably familiar with smartwatches, and you may even have heard of and use an Oura Ring, but what about smart earrings? Researchers at the University of Washington have engineered smart earrings that could actually provide more accurate temperature readings than their predecessors.

Still in its early stages, the Thermal Earring has shown a lot of potential in gauging temperature. In a study of six users, the device outperformed a smartwatch at sensing skin temperature during periods of rest and also showed promise for monitoring signs of stress, eating, exercise and ovulation.

Co-lead author Qiuyue (Shirley) Xue is a University of Washington (UW) doctoral student in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. Speaking about the inspiration behind the device, Xue shared her personal experience of smart watches. 

How does it work?

Okay, so the earrings sound cool. But what’s the science behind it, and how do they actually work?

The earrings use two sensors to get a temperature reading – one that detects body temperature, and another that gets an estimate of room temperature for a more measured reading. 

A magnetic clip attaches one temperature sensor to a user’s ear for reading body temperature, while another sensor dangles about an inch below it for estimating room temperature.

The earring also contains a Bluetooth chip, a battery and an antenna. 

What if I don’t have pierced ears?

You’re in luck - piercings aren’t required to use the Thermal Earring. This is because the earring attaches to the lobe with a magnetic clip. 

What if they’re not really my style?

When it comes to smartwatches, the reality is they’re not to everyone’s tastes. That’s part of the thinking behind the earrings – wanting to create a smart device and tracker that is unobtrusive and subtle for the wearer. 

The Thermal Earring prototype is currently about the size and weight of a paperclip, making it much smaller than any other menstrual cycle tracking wearable on the market. 

Also, let’s not forget that these earrings have been created with a team that includes people who actually wear earrings regularly. So, you have the ability to customise your design – the second sensor can include designs made of resin or gemstones, without negatively affecting its accuracy.

A battery life that works with your menstrual cycle

A feature of the Thermal Earring that I personally love? It’s got a 28 day battery life – which is the exact length of the average menstrual cycle.

Comparatively, the average battery life for most smartwatches is around 1 to 3 days. And even the Oura Ring which has been designed to give you personalised insights into your cycle health only has a battery life of around 7 days. 

Part of the long battery life is down to the fact that after reading and sending a person’s temperature, the device goes into deep sleep to save power.

This thoughtful design, and user-centred approach, is exactly what we like to see when it comes to women’s health wearables, so fingers crossed the device will be commercially available in the near future!