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ANYONE CARING FOR a loved one with Alzheimer’s is hugely aware of the need for constant vigilance.
One BT Young Scientist Competition project aims to ease this pressure by alerting carers to the person’s movements.
Alzheimer’s Alert is a tiny low-wattage device developed by Lauren McMahon, Hazel Corbett and Orla Mullane, all first year students from Desmond College in Limerick.
Built-in to a gel insert for a shoe or sock, the device detects when the person wearing it stands up, and transmits a signal to their family members either with an alarm or text message.
The project was inspired by Laura’s own experience with their grandfather.
She explained that by using Alzheimer’s Alert, the person’s carer would know if they have stood up in the middle of the night, preventing the possibility that they might wander.
Currently the girls are working on miniaturizing the device further to make sure the wearer is less aware they have it on. Another goal is to make it more user friendly – a signal is required to ensure a text message can be sent, but the light confirming that this is active is currently tucked away inside the receiver, meaning it’s not immediately clear if a text message can be sent.
We’ll be checking in again with Lauren, Hazel, and Orla ahead of the competition to see their progress.
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Terrible.
Weren’t the Lebanese complaining about “Homeland” and the fact that Beirut, “The Paris Of The Middle East” was being portrayed as a bombed out shell of a city and a dangerous place. Heard this on BBC radio yesterday. Something to that effect anyway.
There are still quite a few bomb and bullet scarred buildings left in Beirut. There’s also a huge amount of sparkly and sterile norman-forsterized development in the downtown area. It’s an interesting place.
Very sad development.
Who are these two people? I see that they have twitter accounts. Are they over there tweeting about this? Are they journalists? Are they credible witnesses?
I believe Declan they have taken residence in the spare bedroom of the two bed terrace in Coventry already occupied by the the SOHR (Syrian Observatory Human Rights). All mod cons, bills included, close to all amenities….it was a no brainer…
Toorkeel, I gave you a green thumb for your comment. :)
Spent time there on business last year. Beautiful city and people. Such a shame to see this type of thing again. Horrible no matter where it’s happening.
Jasus I didn’t think there was anything left to blow up :)
Darren, what you don’t know would fill a large encyclopedia.
It might have also had the Phalange as a target as these Christian dislike Assad deeply, and not just the victim. I think all Levantine Christians are seeing that they have no friends there only people who use them, or they should be.
have your say