Electronic sensors convert the floor into a huge touchscreen

Growing up has its advantages. Knowledge flows into wisdom. The situation suggests future prospects. Ups and downs in life are embroidered on a rich fabric of our memories. But with age also come consequences that everyone would like to avoid. Movement becomes unsafe. Bones become brittle. Such a simple task like climbing out of bed or moving around the room associated with the fear of falling and getting a hip fracture or inability to rise.

These falls are one of the main fears and for those who care for the elderly: the relatives or carers. What if no one finds out about the fall of the old man? How do I know that the injured lying on the floor at the far edge of the bed?

German startup offers a high-tech monitoring system that allows you to quickly inform about these incidents and report exactly where the person is. The company has developed flooring SensFloor with built-in sensors and wirings. This carpet registers movement and location of the person. This development is already used in a number of European institutions for the care of the elderly.



"Paul - this is the best way to determine what a man does," says Axel Steinhagen (Axel Steinhage), director of research and development company Future-Shape < / a>. "Except for the time when you sleep, you are constantly contact with the floor. And I find it strange that people still do not use it for a variety of information. »

The sensitive surface h4>
Floor covering made of polyester fleece fabric, whose thickness is only 2 mm. Further standard technology into the fabric laminated metal tracks on the circuit-like layout on printed circuit boards. Part nodes are sensory areas. Carpet is connected to the integrated radio modules that transmit real-time information to the controller the size of a pack of cigarettes.

Sensors react to changes in the electromagnetic field in the vicinity of them, provoked by man or other conductive objects. This is the same principle on which work all devices with touch screens. "When I approach a floor sensor, the electromagnetic field increases and the sensor detects it," says Steinhagen.



Thus, the system can notify you of lying or standing man on the floor, and where. Also recorded the direction and speed of movement. This information is transmitted to the controller over the wireless channel. Since the principle of operation is based not on physical contact, the sensors can be stacked for regular carpet, carpet, flooring or Doschatoe coating.

The system can also detect the simultaneous presence of several people, and the parameters of their movement, including the movement of a wheelchair. Due to the electrical conductivity of water "intelligent" floor capable of detecting liquid spills. Also includes an option for lighting control and automatic doors at the approach of man. These capabilities, according Shaynhage make the system suitable for safety in private homes and commercial buildings. Also it can be used to analyze the duration of finding buyers in various areas of retail space, identify the places most attention.

Assistive technology with an impressive price h4>
SensFloor is an expensive investment, although the manufacturer is positioning it as a home automation system, rather than just flooring. The cost is about $ 270 per 1 sq. m. Steinhagen notes that an increase in the volume of production price could fall to $ 68.

The manufacturer believes that their system is the best alternative in comparison with motion sensors, as in a dream people can quite actively move that triggers the sensor. In addition, when using this method of control requires continuous coverage because the sensor does not respond to non-human, if the completely immobile. And there many people who want to be constantly monitored by video surveillance, especially in the bathroom, where the majority of falls happen? Even if automatic cameras?



Now SensFloor installed about 20 objects, research institutes and private homes in Europe. The last of the systems installed (in 2012) covers about 1,300 square meters. m. of living space and controls 70 rooms in a shelter for the elderly in Alsace, France. The system includes lighting, when a man puts his feet on the floor, and calls the nurse if the guest falls.

"In the first four months of operation, we have registered 28 falls, with no false," says Steinhagen. "One nurse told us that she would not have noticed one of the fallen, because the man was lying in an inconspicuous spot at the far bed cream».

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