Temple wearable to gauge pilot readiness before flights, says founder

Temple, a head‑mounted wearable created by Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal, is slated to launch in India with the claim that it can assess whether pilots are medically fit for a flight. The announcement arrived shortly after the FlyDubai episode in which a co‑pilot assaulted Captain Smit Machchhar on a Dubai‑Tel Aviv route carrying more than 170 passengers. Goyal posted on X that the device could also help Air Force officials decide who is suitable for a mission. He said the gadget, which will be offered in six colour variants, measures blood flow to the brain using a technology named BrainFlow, unlike typical smartwatches that track heart rate alone. A user suggested using the data to monitor restaurant staff stress levels, prompting Goyal to reply that his priority remains testing it on pilots and air‑force crews. The wearable sits at the temple region between the forehead and ear and employs a PPG sensor similar to those in Apple Watch, which he says poses no risk to a developing brain. He added that under‑18 users would have little need for the device unless training for elite sports. Goyal also hinted at future versions that might translate thoughts into text, but warned that such capability is still years away. If the device can flag reduced cerebral perfusion, airlines could delay departures until a crew member is cleared, potentially preventing accidents. The Indian aviation regulator has not yet issued guidelines for such biometric screening. ## Context Pilot health monitoring has become a focus after several in‑flight incidents linked to fatigue or medical issues. Wearables that track brain blood flow aim to give real‑time alerts before a crew takes off. Such technology could complement existing medical checks in civil and military aviation.