Lights keep patients on time
From: R&D Magazine - September 2002 - page 30

The Healthcare Electro-Optical Locator (HEAL) is a locating and guidance
network that may give people whp are mentally impaired more autonomy. Those
who have a traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer's disease, for example, can be
reminded of and guided to appointments with HEAL. 

Talking Lights LLC, Boston; MIT; and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital,
Boston, made this autonomy a reality by seeing potential in existing
environments. Led by Roderick Hinman, a team of researchers designed the
locator network with lights already in buildings. The receiver is a palmtop
computer and photocell that patients can carry, wear, or attach to their
wheelchairs. 

The locator lights flicker at a rate imperceptible to the human eye. At
modified rates, they encode messages such as "This is the patient's room,"
"This is the therapy desk," or "This is the gym."  

Programmed in the receiver is the daily schedule of a patient and a map of
the facility. When a patient has an appointment, the receiver reminds and
guides the patient to the correct location. The receiving unit decodes the
modulated light and knows the patient's location within .9 to 1.2 meters,
depending on the spacing of the lights. If the patient doesn't respond to the
reminder, the receiver notifies the staff desk. A wrong turn generates new
directions. 

HEAL is the only system that automates the task of escorting patients from
one location to the next. Studies have shown that HEAL reduces staff
intervention by 50% in patient trips by 50% in patient trips from one part of
a care facility to another. HEAL may also allow early Alzheimer's patients in
remain in home care for a longer period of time. 

http://www.talking-lights.com