Now a team of researchers at the University of South Carolina has developed and is testing a simple, innovative program that might just end such standoffs -- and create a safer environment for seniors.
Lead USC researcher Juan Caicedo has taken standard sensors that monitor bridge safety and developed an algorithm that can detect and possibly prevent falls by sensing vibrations associated with an individual's movement. The matchbox-sized sensors, which are placed on a floor or a baseboard of a room, can detect any movement or vibration and then transmit them to a nearby computer.
"The beauty of the program is that it does not use cameras or microphones, so it is a lot less intrusive," Caicedo, a professor of civil engineering, said. "Someone can't listen to what you are saying or see inside your home. Although sensors are not new, the innovation is in how the different signals are processed."
"In this case, the program detects the vibrations, (a possible fall), the exact spot of the vibrations and then estimates the force of impact of the object hitting the floor," Caicedo said. "It can identify the impact of a small ball bouncing or the weight of an adult."
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