Michigan State University (MSU) researchers from the departments of
Electrical Engineering and
Kinesiology are teaming up to design a new, wearable sensor network that assesses a person’s physical activity and overall well-being.
Three wireless sensors are attached to a participants’ wrist, upper arm and lower leg during physical activity. Then, the technology developed by engineering professor Subir Biswas is used to measure the frequency, intensity and time, as well as the type of physical activity.
“With this technology, we can now measure acceleration, tilt, posture, the proximity of limbs to each other — all in collaboration with each other,” says Biswas, who has created a working prototype.
The data from the device is then wirelessly transmitted to the servers of medical service providers for remote assessment and well-being management.
“Wireless sensor technology has many applications in the medical/health professions,” says Karin Pfeiffer of MSU’s Department of Kinesiology. “We intend to expand the capability of the device by adding features such as determining which children are more active together in a particular setting, or adding an alarm system to provide notice if someone has been sedentary for too long.”
The project is being funded by a two-year, $411,000 grant from the
National Institutes of Health.
Source: Karin Pfeiffer, Michigan State University
Writer: Suban Nur Cooley
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