New Microsoft Watch Can Quiet Parkinson’s Tremors

Tech giant Microsoft has just unveiled one of their newest, most innovative designs: a wristwatch that can temporarily halt tremors in people with Parkinson’s disease.

MORE: Inventor solves graphic designer’s problem with Parkinson’s tremors

The prototype was showcased at the Microsoft Build 2017 event in Seattle, Washington. The watch works by vibrating in a certain pattern which disrupts the patient’s own tremors and quiets them. According to USA Today, the “Emma” watch was originally designed for a British graphic designer, whose Parkinson’s disease had left her unable to do her job. Microsoft engineers accepted a challenge on behalf of the BBC television program The Big Fix and astounded everyone when Emma was able to write her name while wearing the device.

Although the watch doesn’t cure tremors, it could offer a practical solution to millions of people living with the disease and the technology can be built upon to come up with other creative ideas that may help tremors in other parts of the body.

MORE: Designing hacks for life with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinsons’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.