On Monday, March 18, Japanese tech giant Fujitsu unveiled a smartphone can take the pulse of the users just by looking at their faces; and said that it has plans underway to put the inventive device to practical use within one year.

The smartphone's ability to take the pulse of the users by glancing at the face is based on the fact that it can measure the variations in the brightness which the flow of blood brings to the faces of the users.

With researchers having revealed that the innumerable small blood vessels which run through the face enable the monitoring of green light-absorbing haemoglobin, the Fujitsu smartphone works in such a way that the user's pulse is taken when a camera is pointed at his/her face for as little as five seconds. The technology used in the smartphone automatically filters out the impact of head movements or changes caused when the users stand up quickly.

According to Fujitsu, once the smartphone has been put to practical use, it will enable people at work or at home to keep track of their health as well as collect data for analysis, without having to wear special devices.

The company said in a press release: "Even at a busy workplace, or any time a person is sitting in front of a PC, whether for teleconferencing or writing e-mails, their pulse can be measured during brief moments of quiet."