From Chip Lab to Center Stage

What happened: Preethi Ashwath, an analog integrated circuit designer at Analog Devices and IEEE member, moved from behind-the-scenes chip work to demonstrating the company's health-tracking earbuds at CES in Las Vegas, after which Analog selected her to represent the company at other events. Key numbers: About 11 percent of workers in her Why it matters: The earbuds monitor minute vibrations from the heart and lungs that can detect arrhythmia, a leaky heart valve, or fluid in the lungs, and Ashwath says hearables are evolving from audio playback into health-monitoring platforms. Coverage: 5 outlets in 24h

Preethi Ashwath, an analog integrated circuit designer at Analog Devices and IEEE member, moved from behind-the-scenes chip work to demonstrating the company's health-tracking earbuds at CES in Las Vegas, after which Analog selected her to represent the company at other events.

The earbuds monitor minute vibrations from the heart and lungs that can detect arrhythmia, a leaky heart valve, or fluid in the lungs, and Ashwath says hearables are evolving from audio playback into health-monitoring platforms.