Safety for elderly people at home thanks to smart sensors and smartphone

University of Twente symposium on Product & Service Design

6 December 2012

Wireless sensors in homes monitor residents living with dementia. This could be the ideal way of helping the elderly to live safely at home for longer. A tablet transmits data from the sensors to the caregiver’s smartphone. This system will be tested in a pilot study to be launched early in 2013. Prof. Hermie Hermens will be presenting details of this project on 12/12/2012, at the University of Twente’s Product & Service Design symposium. Prof. Hermens is Director of Telemedicine at Roessingh Research & Development, and Professor of Telemedicine at research institute CTIT.

A sensor system tracks the activity pattern of an elderly person living with dementia. The sensors monitor the resident’s behaviour, and record any changes. Hermie Hermens explains that “Our sensor system gives the elderly and their carers a sense of security when they are apart. In addition, caregivers are alerted when urgent help is needed. The technology involved is very promising indeed.” It is being jointly developed by Inertia Technology (a University of Twente spin-off company) and Roessingh Research & Development.

Online help
The Product & Service Design symposium, which will be held on the University of Twente campus, involves both a plenary element and parallel sessions. One of these sessions is the persuasive technology workshop. In the context of eHealth interventions, this will examine the various ways in which technology can affect the behaviour and attitudes of participants. Researchers show how the appeal of online assistance can be boosted through the use of persuasive techniques such as liking, tunnelling, rewards, and social learning. Full details of the symposium’s programme can be found at: www.utwente.nl/symposium12

Product & Service Design Platform
The Product & Service Design Platform combines all of the University of Twente’s research into the design and development of products and services. This platform’s second symposium is scheduled to take place on 12-12-’12. During the symposium, copies of a book will be handed out, and a website will be launched. These will provide an insight into the platform’s wide range of research projects.

Note to the press:
Members of the press are very welcome to attend the symposium. They should contact Prof. Arthur Eger, Professor of Product Design, the man behind the symposium. Telephone: +31-(0)53-4892337 or email: A.O.Eger@utwente.nl