For the four million worldwide with Parkinson鈥檚 disease, a smart wristband invented by a team of 911爆料 students could let them lead healthier lives. The wristband uses high-tech motion sensors to detect tremors in those with the disease, sending the information to doctors over a secure Internet connection. By measuring the effect of prescribed medications and the progression of the disease, it enables neurologists to make more informed decisions
This is one of many projects 911爆料 engineering students are working on to improve the lives of people with a wide range of diseases. Many of the projects are part of what Engineering Assistant Professor calls 鈥渢he wearable Internet of things鈥濃�攚earable technologies with built-in sensors to collect information about medical symptoms that can be transmitted to physicians via wireless technology. Professor Mankodiya is even teaching an undergraduate course on the subject this fall that will team students to develop their own wearable medical devices.
With some creativity and engineering design, these technologies can revolutionize the future of health care.
The three students who invented the smart wristband garnered international attention for their device as one of 23 finalists at the recent International Undergraduate Global Health Technologies Design Competition in Houston.
鈥淲earable devices and smart phones are often looked at as unnecessary luxuries,鈥� said Trevor Bernier, a May 2015 biomedical engineering grad, 鈥渂ut with some creativity and engineering design, these technologies can revolutionize the future of health care.鈥�
The project to develop the device was also a valuable learning experience. 鈥淚 learned a lot about all the different needs for technological innovations in medicine, especially in developing countries,鈥� said sophomore Joe Tudino. 鈥淚t鈥檚 made me think about the role of wearable technology and how the technology of the future will be small, subtle, and supplement our lives.鈥�
Among the projects that students developed this year were 鈥減ulse glasses,鈥� which incorporated a sensor embedded in the nosepad of a pair of eyeglasses that can monitor the wearer鈥檚 pulse. Another student team developed a smart watch system to monitor vital signs.
Junior Cody Goldberg was involved in almost all of the student projects by developing the entire technological framework for the wearable Internet of things. 鈥淚t allows us to quickly whip up different devices that require cross-device communication,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚nstead of reinventing the wheel with every project, we developed an overall architecture that accelerates the projects pretty fast.
鈥淣obody should have to suffer from simple things when technology exists to make them better,鈥� Cody added. 鈥淐ombining these technologies will allow us to forget about the hindrances we endure and let us focus on the things we deserve.鈥�