Skywalk
ECG MONITORING WALKER FOR
ELDER HEART FAILURE PATIENTS
IATSL's heart failure research program by
Toronto Rehab and the University of Toronto
IATSL's heart failure research program is developing non-intrusive technologies by Toronto Rehab and the University of Toronto to provide an independent living to elderly heart failure patients. We want to offer extended departure points based on existing technology to explore more possibilities.
Through a collaboration between Toronto Rehab and OCAD University’s Industrial Design program, this project is to conceptualize new intelligent home scenarios that integrate existing technologies used by IATSL U of T’s heart failure research program to find new preventative tools to detect heart failure in real-time.
We defined the design direction based on research about unobtrusive sensor technology and heart failure patient’s life. There was a vast opportunity to incorporate in-home walking aids as they are not just tools or objects but are helpful and personal extensions of the body in the form of ‘mobile furniture.’
Therefore, we integrated the technology into the walker in a non-intrusive way. Also, suppose an emergency of the vital triggers the sensor. In that case, there are actions for the product to aid the user, like audio responses, asking people around for help and calling medical support.
