Frequently asked questions

What is Exmobaby?

Exmobaby is a machine washable sleep garment designed for babies aged 0-12 months, that uses embedded, non-contact ECG, skin temperature and movement sensors, to monitor behavioral and emotional changes.
What are the key components of the Exmobaby system?

The Exmobaby system is comprised of the biosensor garment itself, which is worn by a baby, a single AAA-battery powered Zigbee transmitter pod that snaps securely onto the garment, a USB Zigbee receiver dongle that plugs into a nearby Windows PC, software for the PC itself, a user website where remote alerts by SMS, AIM and email can be setup.
What is an Exmobaby Evaluation Kit?

In order to refine Exmobaby for usage by consumers, Exmovere Holdings has decided to sell up to 1000 evaluation kits that include beta stage device prototypes, software and customer support needed to evaluate the underlying technology itself. Exmovere's goal is to establish relationships with pediatric specialists, non-profits, non governmental organizations, universities, baby product retailers and potential licensees around the world. There will be two kind of kits available: Standard and Deluxe. Standard kits, which cost $1000, will include one garment, one transmitter/receiver, software and support for 6 months. Deluxe kits cost $2500, come with everything found in a standard kit, but also include one sample of each garment size. Deluxe kits are important for potential distributors and licensees that need an opportunity to inspect the garment on a variety of babies.
How does the transceiver pod work and how long will the battery last?

Exmobaby is designed to be soft, comfortable and safe for babies while they sleep. The Exmobaby snap-on Zigbee transceiver pod is placed on the lower abdomen and encourages baby to sleep on their back. The device has a simple on/off button on its face. When activated, the pod will transmit a burst of data once per minute to a receiving PC within 100 feet. The pod will transmit the following raw data from Exmobaby: heart rate, skin temperature and movement on 3 axes. All interpretation of the data is done by software on the receiving PC. The Exmobaby pod will last at least 8 hours on a single charge. The device is designed to be powered by a single, rechargeable AAA battery. The pod is light, hypoallergenic and unswallowable.
Is Exmobaby an FDA-approved medical device?

No. Exmobaby is currently an investigational stage product that will ultimately be marketed to the general public as an FDA 510k exempt biofeedback device, predicated on a wide number of existant wireless ECG devices. Any diagnostic or medical usage of Exmobaby technology in its current form on babies must be done under the supervision of a physician with informed consent from the parents.
Is it harmful for babies to be exposed to a wireless device, like the Exmobaby transceiver?

There is greater proven danger to babies from choking hazards than exposure to wireless or radiating devices like cell phones, radios and/or microwaves. Exmobaby is insulated and designed to broadcast data, and hence radiate, minimally. In any case, babies are exposed to significantly more radiation from nearby cell phones than from sleeping with Exmobaby.
I like Exmobaby vital sign monitoring technology but I am afraid of any kind of radiation whatsoever. What do I do?

Exmovere is working on a non-wireless version of Exmobaby that merely displays the data on the garment using woven fiber-optic displays. This would eliminate the need for wireless transmission but would still require someone to actually look at the baby itself.
How is it possible to detect emotional states using Exmobaby?

Exmovere Holdings, the designer of Exmobaby, is committed to emotion detection algorithms that involve two kinds of vital sign data: arousal (energy/alertness) and valence (mood). Detection of emotion from Exmobaby involves software that compares heart rate, delta temperature and movement data (arousal) to heart rate variability and skin temperature (valence). Normally, these data, if tracked over time, enable a system to "guess" from a series of words that could be used to describe an emotional state: anger, fatigue, depression, joy, etc. For this to work, normally the subject would confirm or deny the system's assessment. Over time, this enables the software algorithms to gain greater accuracy. In the case of babies, Exmovere is asking its users to try something new: name states. Exmobaby software will monitor trends in vital states. Parents will be asked to name states, such as "giggly" or "grumpy," and the system can and will alert them when the underlying readings that match those states are detected. The idea is to demonstrate the link between changes in vital sign data and mental states. It is also to create a deeper level of communication between babies and their parents at the beginning of such a critical relationship.
Who is the target audience for Exmobaby?

Exmobaby is intended ultimately for first time parents. Exmovere's goal is to find physicians, retailers, distributors and healthcare IT providers that can make the technology ubiquitous and affordable.

FAQ's for New Parents

To further illustrate the worldwide concerns that new parents have about their infants and children, consider the Top 10 Worries of New Parents according to CanadianParents.com. Consider the role that Exmobaby clothing and apparel might play in laying many of these fears to rest.

Will my baby die?

If there's one thing that tops the new parent worry list, it's the possibility that your baby could die. The first time he sleeps through the night on his own, you awake in a panic, wondering if he's alright. The fear of losing a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome can be particularly strong for new parents, notes Dr. Tiffany McKee-Garrett, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Exmobaby clothing and apparel plays a key role in dramatically improving the peace of mind of new parents or any parent. The technology is designed to alert parents when baby or child needs help.
Will I be able to protect my baby from harm?

The world can suddenly feel like a very scary place when you're entrusted with the task of caring for a newborn. Fortunately, newborn babies aren't nearly as fragile as they look, and common sense and parental instinct enable most parents to keep their babies safe from harm.

Exmobaby products are intended to assist parents’ natural instincts. The foundation for the product benefits is rooted in bio-data and natural human conditions.
Is my baby "normal"?

Something else that most new parents worry about is whether or not their baby is developing normally. McGee-Garrett spends a lot of time reassuring worried parents that their babies are well within the normal range in terms of their development. "I try to remind these parents that there is a large variability in the timing of when babies do things," she explained. "In the vast majority of cases, despite the parents' concerns, the baby is developing just fine."

One of the positive benefits of Exmobaby clothing and apparel is the ability to track a child’s bio-information over time. Trends that are built from your baby’s information can be tracked and any deviation from established norms can help signal a need for further investigation.
Is my baby getting enough to eat?

While parents of formula-fed infants may also fret about whether their babies are getting enough to eat, feeding-related worries tend to be more of a concern for parents who are breastfeeding. Part of the problem, of course, is that it's impossible to measure the amount of liquid that a breastfeeding baby is consuming--other than counting the number of wet and soiled diapers that the baby produces over the course of a day. Fortunately, most new mothers grow more confident in their bodies' ability to provide for the needs of their breastfeeding babies once they and their nursing babies gain a little more experience.

Exmobaby technology, while not specifically designed to provide feedback or monitor food intake, can be used to develop baseline measures to help parents understand the timing and impact of eating on baby’s condition.
Is my baby crying too much?

Many new parents are shocked to discover how long and how often newborns cry, and may worry that the crying could be a sign of a more serious problem. McKee-Garrett tries to reassure the parents that she works with that crying is perfectly normal infant behavior, and that as long as the baby looks well, the crying is unlikely to do him any real harm. And to parents of colicky babies, she offers these reassuring words: "This too will end. Your baby will grow out of the colic by age three months-age four months if you're really unlucky."

Rather than having to rely on intuition or “feelings”, parents whose children and infants are wearing Exmobaby apparel can be assured that they will know when baby’s crying signals a need for serious attention.
Is my baby sleeping too much-or too little?

If your baby sleeps through the night right away, you may worry that he's not eating often enough. If he's not sleeping through the night by the time he's six months, you may worry that you're setting him up for a lifetime of bad sleeping habits by failing to teach him to sleep through the night. Fortunately, most newborns settle into more adult-friendly sleep patterns by the time they reach three to six months-good news for parents who can't imagine anything more satisfying than a good night's sleep!

Sleeping or awake, babies and toddlers wearing Exmobaby clothing and apparel will be monitored. Parents can be assured that if anything needs attention, they will be alerted.
Will my other children learn to love the baby?

Parents who are expecting their second or subsequent child frequently worry about how their firstborn will adjust to the arrival or a new baby or sister. While there can be some rough spots on the road to sibling acceptance, most older children do learn to welcome-or at least accept-the new baby.

Exmobaby products can provide a good way for the entire family to become more familiar with baby’s condition. Because they have grown up with computers and technology, older children may be able to help their parents gain an understanding of how the system works.
Will life ever be the same for my partner and I?

Another worry at the top of the list for many new parents is how they will manage to stay connected with their partner when baby makes three-or four-or more! While it's hard to find much "couple time" when you have a newborn around, most couples take solace in the fact that the exhausting newborn phase only lasts for a short time. Once the baby is sleeping through the night-or at least for a couple of hours at a time-most couples are able to find the time and energy for romance again.

With Exmobaby products, parents may find it easier to relax and have peace of mind about baby’s condition. Without that constant worry, it may be easier for many couples to find more romantic evenings together.
Will I be able to provide for this child financially?

Another big worry-especially for first-time fathers-is money. It's a concern that Harriet Lerner, Ph.D., bestselling author of The Mother Dance, has heard time and time again from men: "New fathers feel tremendous pressure to earn, earn, earn."

Exmobaby clothing and apparel can actually reduce the costs associated with new baby and infant medical attention. Once parents understand the information being communicated by the technology, they will have a greater understanding for what needs medical attention. Without Exmobaby, and especially for new parents, there may be a tendency to overuse doctor visits to check on baby’s condition.
Will I be a good parent?

One of the most common worries of new parents-particularly of new mothers-is about whether they are up to the challenges of parenting.

Given society's extraordinarily high standards of mothers, new mothers have good reason to be scared, says Lerner. "Society has expectations for mothers that even a saint couldn't meet."

While this particular worry never disappears entirely, most new mothers resolve their Madonna complex by learning how to accept their imperfections on the parenting front.

While there are plenty of things for new parents to worry about during their baby's first few months of life, most parents discover that their anxiety level begins to decrease a little as time goes on.

That was the case for Laura Augustine, 31, whose son, Sam, recently turned one. "I was pretty paranoid when we first brought Sam home from the hospital," she recalled. "I can't believe how much easier it is now."

Exmobaby clothing and apparel will help all parents be better by providing ongoing monitoring and feedback about baby’s true state of being. The capabilities offered by Exmobaby clothing and apparel products can assure parents that their children are okay and that infants, in particular, are safe and sound. With this greater peace of mind, many parents will find it easier to focus on and meet the challenges life brings.