 |
GPS Shoes Track Alzheimer's Patients
GPS footwear for tracking the location of Alzheimer's patients is in the design phase by GTX (a GPS personal location services company) and Aetrex (pedorthic footwear).
(GTX and Aetrex combine to create GPS tracking footwear [GTX])
Atrex footwear will allow family members to instantly see the whereabouts of the wearer of the shoes. It is also possible to set up a geo-fence around a user's home that would trigger an alert to a cell phone or computer.
“There are a growing number of seniors suffering from dementia and we know over 50% ‘wander’ without anyone’s knowledge of where they are and where they are heading,” said Chris Walsh, an ex Nike executive and current COO of GTX Corp."Five million Americans are afflicted with Alzheimer's and this is estimated to grow to more than twenty million as the Boomer population ages," states GTX Advisor Andrew Carle.
Shoes make a good choice for this technology because Alzheimer's patients have a tendency to remove unfamiliar objects from their person. Product testing should begin by Q4 of 2009.
From a science-fictional standpoint, this kind of device will create a map of the wearer of the GTX GPS shoes. In his classic 1936 novel The Cometeers, Jack Williamson wrote about a remarkable device that would create a map of your movements across an alien world.
He reached to unsnap the cartograph from his belt. He had brought that tiny instrument to map their movements. He opened the cover and peered at the strip...
(Read more about Jack Williamson's cartograph)
If you are thinking that they're putting GPS into everything these days, you probably don't even need to read the following set of links to fascinating related stories:
- Pribot Robotic Prius Tours 'Frisco
The self-driving car used computer maps and GPS to find its way around without human assistance. - GPS Lingerie 'Find Me If You Can'
Currently, this item is being marketed only to "techno-savvy women." With video. - StarChase Tracking Tag And Star Wars Homing Beacon
How to track criminals on a high-speed chase? Previously seen only in Star Wars, behold the throwable, sticky homing beacon tracking device.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/6/2009)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Medical ")
Spray-On Skin For Burns From ReCell Kit
Spray-on skin prepared from a patient's own skin cells may be the perfect choice for even severe second-degree burns.
Gregory Benford On Artificial Biological Selection for Longevity
Benford, a physics professor and sf writer, has put his money where Robert Heinlein's mouth was, and created a corporation to extend human life.
Your Thoughts On Youtube?
Scientists pull information out of the brains of people watching Youtube. Make up your own joke, but this method seems to work.
Death Algorithm Developed In Japan
Interesting work raises moral questions; I wonder if this algorithm will me made available in a simple home test.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Current News
AirRobot Micro-UAV 'Fairies' In Shakespeare Play
At least they were not the 'rude mechanicals'.
Paralysis Ray Uses Photocontrolled Molecular Switch
Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.
Brine Wells May Swallow Towns
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of the Quadraturin essence in 1 cup of water.
Will In-Vitro Meat Change Our Lives?
ChickieNobs, anyone?
Walky iPhone Finger Gesture Robot Controller
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.
OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Foils Carjacker
Better than a car chase.
Robot Martial Arts Videos
Robo-Shiko!
Interactive TV Patent From Sony
Can you dance faster than the White Clown?
Smart Contact Lens With Power Harvesting Circuits
Smart contacts with VR connections.
'Significant Amount' Of Lunar Water Found
Droogs! There's water ice on the moon!
FOXP2 Tweak Yields Planet Of The Apes?
Get your filthy words off me, you damn dirty ape!
Lev, Theremin-Playing Robot
Patsy Cline classic played by robot.
XT-1 Micro Mouse With Blazing Speed
These are fully autonomouse robots.
Escape Pods, Refuge Of ISS Astronauts From Space Junk
Who first thought about escape pods?
Steerable Bowling Ball Is A Cheesy Spherical Robot
Once the province of geeks, now in bowling alleys.
Bio-Mechanics And Micro-Robotic Flight
Micro air vehicles and insect flight.
