BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

Most people these days either have or are familiar with smartphones and smartwatches. But what about a smart pacifier? Some doctors and an engineer at UAB are part of the team developing that technology that could save babies' lives, especially the most vulnerable, like preemies.

It could be the pacifier of the future. It's designed for sick babies, putting high-tech sensors in a device that babies instinctively take to. UAB neonatologist Dr. Namasivayam Ambalavanan said, “All babies can suck well, whereas you can't really tell them to blow into a device.”

Ambalavanan is on the team developing this technology.

“This is what we would call a dumb pacifier or a not very smart pacifier. So, we are planning to introduce microphones and a speaker, right at the tip of the p

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