Official launch of SmartSocks®DISCOVERY

After a decade of research and development, the British company Milbotix has officially launched SmartSocks®DISCOVERY, an innovative solution for capturing physiological data in real time. Unimedia Technology worked as technology partner on the development of the software that powers this pioneering system.

What is SmartSocks®DISCOVERY?

SmartSocks®DISCOVERY are smart socks designed to collect physiological and physical activity data in real time, especially suited to clinical and medical research settings.

Unlike traditional wrist-worn devices, SmartSocks® offer a more comfortable, discreet solution that is better tolerated by people with neurological conditions such as dementia, autism or brain injuries. This makes them ideal for studies where acceptance of the device is key to ensuring continuous, reliable data collection.

Each pair includes an active sock (with integrated sensors) and a passive sock (with no electronics). The active sock contains:

The data is transmitted via Wi-Fi to a dashboard accessible through a web browser, where it can be viewed in real time or exported in formats such as CSV for offline analysis. The system also includes 16GB of internal storage, which makes it possible to record sessions even when there is no connection.

The socks are made with breathable yarn, flat seams and soft honeycomb cuffs, ideal for users with fragile skin or reduced mobility. They can also be machine washed at 30 °C, provided the sensor unit has been removed beforehand.

SmartSocks®DISCOVERY represents a new generation of wearable devices: accurate, reusable and user-centred, enabling more humane and reliable research studies.

An electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor to measure stress or arousal responses
A PPG (photoplethysmography) sensor to monitor heart rate and its variability
An infrared temperature sensor to detect skin temperature
A 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) to monitor movement and gait patterns

What was Unimedia Technology’s contribution to SmartSocks®DISCOVERY?

The Unimedia Technology team was responsible for developing the software system that powers the SmartSocks®:

The solution also includes integration with AWS IoT and key features such as real-time data visualisation, export to CSV and compatibility with custom analysis workflows.

A backend based on Raspberry Pi and Docker, connected to the hardware
An API developed in ASP.NET Core, which connects the client software to the frontend
A frontend developed with Angular, accessible via browser and mobile devices

Benefits for researchers and study participants

SmartSocks®DISCOVERY offers significant advantages for both researchers and participants:

Comfortable and well tolerated, even with prolonged use
Wireless, uninterrupted data collection
Reliable and varied data available in real time
An intuitive dashboard with CSV export and historical tracking
Open API for custom integrations
Reusable components with no single-use consumables

A successful collaborative project

This was a collaborative project, with regular meetings, milestone-based deliveries and functional testing aligned with the requirements defined by Milbotix.

“Unimedia Technology provided clarity from the outset on the system architecture. Throughout the project, their communication and flexibility have been excellent.”
— Zeke Steer, CEO of Milbotix

This project combines technology, health and innovation with real impact on research and quality of life.

Unimedia has experience in emerging technologies and offers advice and services in this field to organisations that need support with similar projects.

Find out more about the launch via this link.