Mitsubishi Electric said it developed a contactless sensor capable of tracking heart rate, respiration and other vital signs, aiming to capture a slice of Japan’s expanding elderly care technology market. The device sidesteps the need for physical contact with users, potentially addressing situations where smartwatches or similar wearables fall short.
The Tokyo-based conglomerate positioned the technology as particularly suited for older adults who may find contact sensors uncomfortable or unsafe. Yet the company disclosed no pricing, commercial availability timeline or specifics on how the sensor performs compared to existing alternatives—leaving questions about its competitive edge in a crowded field.
Japan’s government has set a target of extending healthy life expectancy by more than three years by 2040, as the nation grapples with one of the world’s oldest populations. Nearly 30% of Japanese citizens are 65 or older, driving demand for remote health monitoring solutions. The country’s smart healthcare sector reached $10.3 billion in 2024 and is forecast to triple by 2035, according to market research.
Mitsubishi Electric has previously introduced contactless monitoring technologies, including a driver health detection system in 2023. Whether this latest sensor gains traction depends on factors the company has yet to address publicly—cost competitiveness, integration with existing healthcare infrastructure and measurable advantages over contact-based devices that already dominate the market.
