“Magic carpets” for Eldercare
October 2, 2012 | Terry Sharrer
“Personalized healthcare” has many dimensions, but a sensored rug that not only can detect falls, but can learn to identify changes in a walker’s gait (e.g. progression of arthritis or osteoporosis; recovery from a joint replacement) is a different twist. This device, developed at the University of Manchester (UK) uses optical fibers to generate a pressure map that a computer can analyze for major or subtle actions. Now, it’s only a matter of keeping people from tripping over the rug. MORE
Image Credit: University of Manchester , Renato Ganoza, Flickr and Smart Planet.com