Using wireless technology and AI, engineers are endeavoring to discreetly observe the living spaces of senior citizens and identify potential health issues at an early stage.
A team of University of Waterloo scientists designed a novel system that monitors a person's actions with precision and consistency, collecting pertinent details without requiring any physical wearables. This system notifies healthcare providers when intervention is necessary.
professor at the University of Waterloo. He further stated that they have successfully developed millimeter-wave radio systems that consume minimal energy and utilize machine learning and AI, allowing for their dependable use in various settings such as households, healthcare facilities, and long-term care facilities. Dr. George Shaker is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Waterloo who has been working on this technology for over five years. An individual who teaches and conducts research in the fields of electrical and computer engineering.
An additional benefit is that the system can notify healthcare employees of unexpected falls without having to utilize invasive privacy devices like cameras.
Shaker and his team's research arrives at a time when the public healthcare systems are overwhelmed trying to cater for the pressing requirements of fast-increasing aging societies.
to use and not always accurate. Therefore, seniors may experience health issues without anyone noticing and go without necessary assistance in a timely manner. It is not feasible for clinics to use and inappropriate for households to operate.
The latest system is a significant advancement and operates by transmitting low-power signals wirelessly through an indoor environment such as a retirement facility, apartment or house.
The receiver captures and processes the waveforms that bounce off various objects and individuals under observation. The data is then fed into an artificial intelligence engine to decode the processed waves in order to detect and monitor various applications.
The system is based on radar technology that uses very little power and can be easily installed on a ceiling or wall. It offers advantages over wearable monitoring devices that need to be worn and charged frequently, and may also cause discomfort.
Shaker mentioned that our wireless technology has the ability to efficiently supervise different actions like sleeping, watching TV, eating, and using the bathroom frequently in households and nursing homes.
At present, the system has the capability to notify caregivers of overall mobility deterioration, higher risk of falls, potential occurrence of a urinary tract infection, and the beginning of various other medical ailments.
Researchers from Waterloo have collaborated with Gold Sentinel, a Canadian firm, to market the technology that has already been implemented in numerous senior living communities.