UK scientist creates futuristic shoe which can prevent the elderly from falling over
When an engineer noticed that his 89-year-old mentor was unsteady on his feet, he created a new, futuristic shoe that could one day help him and scores of older people keep their balance.
The insole of the shoe worn by Peter Langlois has an insole containing hundreds of tiny sensors. This insole provides lab-quality, real-time data about the man’s gait, which can be viewed on a tablet or mobile phone.
And now, University of Bristol inventor Dr Jiayang Li’s prototype will be shown to industry experts this week.
Dr., a lecturer in electrical engineering. Li said: “Peter has been a great advocate for my work since I started my PhD, and it is surprising that at 89 years old he still meticulously edits my research group’s research papers.
“His mind remains extremely sharp and his dedication is so inspiring.
“One day I noticed that he was unsteady on his feet and almost lost his balance.
“This made me think that this was very risky and could have dire consequences if it resulted in a fall, especially for people who live alone.
“Then I wondered if the semiconductor technology we were working on could actually help.”
Dr Li’s previous work had developed advanced sensors to more accurately measure people’s lung function and determine how their breathing was restricted.
“I realized we could apply similar techniques to monitor how well people were walking,” he said.
“Detailed mapping of leg movements can detect fall risk and help people like Peter stay safe while maintaining their independence at home.
“While this highly detailed analysis could be achieved in the hospital, the challenge was to make the technology more mobile and accessible in everyday life.
“That’s what makes our shoe so special and such a big step forward.”
The science involved creating an advanced microchip, also known as a semiconductor, that could read all 253 tiny sensors in the shoe sole simultaneously.
The data collected is used to create images of the person’s foot, highlight pressure points, and assess whether the person is walking stably or is in danger of falling.
To make the device user-friendly, it runs on a low-voltage battery, so in principle it can be powered by small-screen devices such as mobile phones and even smartwatches.
“The power of the microchip is only 100 microwatts, so the device can work for about three months before needing to be recharged,” Dr Li said.
“Preventing falls is a huge challenge for the aging population, so the potential to predict and prevent this condition with our invention is truly exciting.
“When I explained the concept to Peter, he was really impressed and pleased that this could one day be produced and used to help so many people.”
The science behind the device will be showcased at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers conference on Wednesday.
“The concept can be easily mass produced and create a low-cost shoe sole that could change the lives of older people,” Dr Li said.
“We will then conduct a formal clinical evaluation with a larger and more diverse group to confirm how well it predicts fall risk, refine the analysis provided by the device it is connected to, and work with clinical and industry partners to develop this into a scalable product.”
