Validation of a Wearable Biometric System’s Ability to Monitor Heart Rate in Two Different Climate Conditions under Variable Physical Activities

Research has proven the importance of cooling garments in reducing heat stress, especially for workers in extreme environments. The currently available cooling capacity of these garments should be controlled for improving their efficiency and autonomy. In this study, we investigated the Hexoskin wearable biometric shirt’s capacity to monitor heart rate. Twelve male volunteers wore a Hexoskin biometric shirt and Polar® H7 heart rate sensor and they completed two identical tests under two different climate conditions (25°C ± 0.5°C; 39% ± 1% relative humidity and 31°C ± 0.5°C; 60% ± 1% relative humidity). The results from four different statistical methods show a high correlation and an absence of significant differences between the Polar? and Hexoskin systems in monitoring the subjects’ heart rates. The Hexoskin wearable biometric shirt can be used to monitor the heart rate of humans in moderate or hot and humid climates under variable physical activities, regardless of their age, weight or height.