Wearable Proximity Tracker for Walking Assistance Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elderly and injured individuals face increased risks of accidents and the need for repeated purchases of walking instruments due to forgetfulness or misplacement, highlighting the need for a system to monitor and alert users about the proximity and location of their walking assistance tools.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device and locator tag system integrated with walking instruments that tracks user and instrument locations, providing alerts via vibration, audio, and visual notifications if the instrument is out of range or misplaced, and allowing administrators to monitor and respond to emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a walking instrument is provided without tracking technology, then the device remains simple and inexpensive, but the user faces increased risk of accidents due to misplacement or forgetting the instrument
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device serves multiple functions: it acts as a personal safety monitor, a proximity tracker for the walking instrument, and an emergency alert system. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive safety coverage without requiring separate dedicated devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a wearable intermediary device that mediates between the user and the walking instrument. This intermediary continuously monitors proximity and communicates status to both the user and remote contacts, resolving the contradiction by adding a safety layer without directly modifying the walking instrument's core structure.
2Reliability
If a tracking system is integrated into the walking instrument, then the instrument can be monitored for proximity and location, but the cost and complexity of the instrument increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system is segmented into two separate components: a locator tag attached to the walking instrument and a wearable monitoring device. This segmentation allows the instrument itself to remain relatively simple while the monitoring intelligence resides in the wearable device, reducing the complexity burden on the instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of embedding complex tracking electronics directly in the walking instrument, the system uses a separate locator tag that copies or replicates the instrument's location information. This approach provides full tracking functionality while keeping the instrument's core design simple and maintenance-free.
3Measurement precision
If the wearable device continuously monitors location data, then accurate proximity detection is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic location monitoring rather than truly continuous monitoring. The wearable device checks proximity at regular intervals and only activates full monitoring when the user is in motion or when separation is detected. This periodic approach maintains measurement precision for safety-critical moments while significantly reducing overall energy consumption during periods of inactivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of wirelessly tracking a walking assistance tool notifies a user from escaping past a safe perimeter and monitors the location of the walking assistance tool with respect to the user. The system includes a wearable device, a locator tag, and a walking assistance tool. The method begins by tracking a current device location with the wearable device, and a current tag location is tracked with the locator tag. The current tag location is relayed from the location tag to the wearable device. A distance difference is calculated between the current device location and the current tag location with the wearable device. A separation alert is outputted with the wearable device, if the distance is greater than or equal to a proximal distance threshold. A desertion alert is outputted with the wearable device, if the current device location is outside of a geofenced area.