Detection of falls using accelerometers and mobile phone technology.
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Date
2011-10-21
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES to study the sensitivity and specificity of fall detection using mobile phone technology DESIGN an experimental investigation using motion signals detected by the mobile phone SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS the research was conducted in a laboratory setting and 18 healthy adults 12 males and 6 females age 29 8 7 years were recruited MEASUREMENT each participant was requested to perform three trials of four different types of simulated falls forwards backwards lateral left and lateral right and eight other everyday activities sit to stand stand to sit level walking walking up and downstairs answering the phone picking up an object and getting up from supine Acceleration was measured using two devices a mobile phone and an independent accelerometer attached to the waist of the participants RESULTS Bland Altman analysis shows a higher degree of agreement between the data recorded by the two devices Using individual upper and lower detection thresholds the specificity and sensitivity for mobile phone were 0 81 and 0 77 respectively and for external accelerometer they were 0 82 and 0 96 respectively CONCLUSION fall detection using a mobile phone is a feasible and highly attractive technology for older adults especially those living alone It may be best achieved with an accelerometer attached to the waist which transmits signals wirelessly to a phone
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Senior, Pre-prototype, Feasibility, Experimental, Non-randomized, Unintentional injury, Falls, Injuries, Data collection and reporting, Accelerometers / Motion sensors