"Our system will allow for such things as vital sign monitoring and location tracking using low-cost technologies and offering fast response times for caregivers," said Driss Benhaddou, an assistant professor of engineering technology at UH's College of Technology, in a statement on the plan.
The wireless system has been four years in development. It uses off-the-shelf technologies to keep costs low. The system should cost about $1,000 for a typical house and would feature sensors in most areas of a house.
According to the UH team, patients with Alzheimer's or dementia wear a sensor the size of a quarter on a belt or piece of clothing that monitors temperature, heart beat and oxygen level. A central processing hub in the house would alert the caregiver via wireless devices when the patient needs help. This relieves caregivers of the burden of constantly monitoring patients, allowing them more freedom of movement.
"Components can be added or removed without the intricate knowledge of the system, because it uses plug-and-play technology," assistant professor Deniz Gurkan said. "It is similar to plugging in a mouse to a computer using a USB port. You don't need to be a computer techie to be able to use it."
The system is currently under testing.
