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I kicked mummy at 11.38... chatwomb to open on Facebook
Mark Prigg, Science Correspondent16.12.08
BABIES could soon appear on Facebook while still in the womb after researchers developed a "pregnancy belt" that monitors movement.
The belt, called a Kickbee, uses sensors to track the foetus.
Whenever it moves, the sensor sends a wireless signal to a computer with a message such as, "I kicked mummy at 11:38am".
The system also monitors how often the baby kicks, and sends update messages if it is particularly active.
Currently the Kickbee sends updates via the messaging website Twitter, but future versions will update sites such as Facebook as well.
Already many parents create Facebook pages for their children as soon as they are born, and use them to update friends and share pictures.
The Kickbee's inventor says he designed the gadget to keep him in touch with the child's development.
Corey Menscher, of New York University, said: "As an expectant father, I am once-removed from the physical knowledge my wife has of our baby and its development.
"With the Kickbee, I wanted to create a device that would give me a chance to be aware of our baby's movements, and Twitter enables us to share the baby's movement activity with anyone."
It is hoped the belt could also provide a serious medical use, monitoring the child's development in the womb.
"There is a practical application, in that mothers are told to monitor a baby's activity in the womb, as low activity can indicate foetal distress," said Mr Menscher.
By constantly monitoring the activity, the system could warn parents if movement stops suddenly.
Mr Menschler said the project, part of his university course, was still at the prototype stage. Currently Mr Menscher's wife wears the prototype, and updates can be seen online at www.twitter.com/kickbee.
"It is at a very early stage of development, and does look a little rough at the moment, but a final version would be very simple to use," he said.
It follows a £120 scanning service at the private Portland hospital in London where expectant mothers can download a 3D image of babies to MP3 players.
