OpenSeizureDetector

OpenSeizureDetector

About this app

Open Seizure Detector is an epileptic (tonic-clonic) seizure detector / alert system that utilises a Garmin or PineTime smart-watch to detect shaking or abnormal heart rate, and raises an alarm for a carer. If the wearer of the watch shakes for 15-20 seconds, the device will produce a warning. If the shaking continues for another 10 seconds it raises an alarm. It can also be configured to raise alarms based on measured heart rate or O2 saturation.

The phone app communicates with the smart-watch and can raise alarms in one of three ways:
- Local alarm - the phone emits an alarm sound.
- If it is being used in the home, other devices can connect to it via WiFi to receive alarm notifications.
- If it is being used outside it can be configured to send SMS text message notifications that include the location of the user, as wifi notifications are not possible away from home

Please see the Installation Instructions for help with setting up this app.

The system includes self-checking to make sure it is functioning correctly, and will beep to warn the user of faults to help provide reassurance that it is working.
Note that the app will give false alarms for some activities that involve repeated movements (brushing teeth, typing etc) so it is important that new users spend some time to get used to what will set it off and use the mute function if necessary to reduce false alarms.

You need a Garmin Smart Watch that is connected to your Android device or a PineTime watch for OpenSeizureDetector to work.. (it also works with a BangleJS Watch if you have one which is connected to your Android device)

The system does not use any external web services to detect seizures or raise alarms, so is not dependent on an internet connection to work, and no subscriptions to commercial services are needed. We do however provide a 'Data Sharing' service to allow users contribute to the development of OpenSeizureDetector by sharing the data collected by their device to help improve the detection algorithms.

I recommend subscribing to email updates to the OpenSeizureDetector web site (https://openseizuredetector.org.uk) or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/openseizuredetector) if you use the app so I can contact users if I find an issue you should know about.

Note that this app has not been subjected to clinical trials to confirm its detection reliability, but I have had some positive feedback from users saying that it has detected tonic-clonic seizures reliably. We hope to improve this situation by using data provided by users with our Data Sharing system
See also https://www.openseizuredetector.org.uk/?page_id=1341 for some examples of it detecting seizures.

For more details of how this works see the OpenSeizureDetector web site (https://www.openseizuredetector.org.uk/?page_id=455)

Note that this is free software with source code released under the Open Source Gnu Public Licence (https://github.com/OpenSeizureDetector/Android_Pebble_SD) , so is covered by the following disclaimer which is part of the licence:
I provide the program "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for purpose. the entire risk as to the quality and performance of the programme is with you.

(apologies for the legalese, but a couple of people have mentioned that I should be careful and include a disclaimer explicitly rather than just use the one in the licence).

Ratings and reviews

Amazing app, thank you developer. Sends a text message alert when it senses a seizure occuring (via a Garmin watch). Note that in Android 11 I can't get the location text to send (even with location permission switched on), but as a workaround, in Google Maps I have my location permanently shared with my wife.

This is extremely helpful. I set my HR to 75 to trigger the alarm, and works perfectly. I only use it at night as my seizures are nocturnal. My HR only passes 75 when I have seizures so alerts my wife. The sooner I can get anti cluster seizure meds on board, the better obviously (Benzo, Clobazam etc). Thank you so much for creating this App for people who suffer from this condition, and wish you all the best for your son. Best wishes to you. Matt

This so confusing. Tried for Pixel Watch. It needs another app to function. The UI is something from 1982. I thought I got sucked into the Grid from the original Tron movie when it opened. It prompted to open Google Wallet to install a file. Red flag. Alarming. I work in IT and this is bizarre, I don't under how it went through any UX/UI testing and approval. There are other options that are clear and easy to use, especially at the start of a seizure. Never left a negative app review until now.

What’s new

Update to target Android 15, and simplify Data Sharing event labelling by grouping events that occur close together into a single event for editing.