Florida State University researchers have been working on a very special app that could potentially save the life of a loved one. Â The app is based on the internal accelerometer, and takes into account factors such as height, weight and activity levels of the user, along with position data. To put it simply, the app would detect if a person has fallen or not.
I’ve fallen and I can’t get up jokes aside, the tech behind the app is fairly complex. In the event a person has fallen, the app becomes active:
When a possible fall is detected the application communicates first with the user by vibration, flashing LED/screen, and audio alerts. If the user does not respond (as would be expected in the case of a serious fall), communication is attempted with pre-designated contacts. Contacts are sent text message alerts that include the time of the event and GPS coordinates. Contacts can then communicate directly to the phone speaker of the person who fell. When communication by either of these methods fails, or a fall is confirmed, an emergency service is contacted promptly.
While this sounds great, I can’t help but think real-world use will be limited. After all, we are talking about an app on a fully capable smartphone. While there are many tech-savvy older citizens out there, there are just as many, if not more that are unable to make use of smartphone technology. Â To use a device simply for this app would be overkill.
The app, currently named iFall, is still in development, with release expected this summer.
[Source iMedicalApps]
