Balance Device
From: NASA Tech Briefs Insider - 08/22/2005

A portable device has been created to help sufferers of balance disorders
avoid falls by providing the brain more input. "What the brain normally does
is get information from vision, inner ear, and from your feet," said
researcher Marco Dozza. 

"[The brain] is continuously integrating this information to have the best
estimation of your position and movement, in order to apply the best strategy
to keep balance," explained Dozza. "When one of these senses is not there,
balance is more challenging and the chance of falling increases."  

Worn on the belt, the device contains sensors that detect when the wearer
sways outside a vertical "safe zone." A computer converts that information
into musical tones played through headphones, which get louder the further
they sway from vertical. Stereo sound is used to indicate the direction of
the sway. 

Patients learn that different tones correspond to different directions of
sway, allowing them to correct their posture before falling over. With enough
training, the tones replace missing balance information that the brain
normally receives from a nerve in the inner ear. 

Links:

Balance Booster
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218392623

OHSU Researchers Help Develop Portable Device To Assist Those Combating Balance Disorders
http://www.ohsu.edu/landing/balance/

Device to Combat Balance Disorders
http://www.biomed.drexel.edu/content/news_events/display_news.cfm?NEWS_ID=262

Standing Tall
http://www.therapytimes.com/content=5501J64C487EBC841

New Balance Device
http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2005/07/ipodpagerlevel.html

Researchers have developed a portable "Ipod-like" device that can be used to help correct balance disorders.
http://www12.rehacare.de/cgi-bin/md_rehacare/custom/pub/content.cgi?lang=2&ticket=g_u_e_s_t&oid=9011

Researchers develop portable device to assist those combating balance disorders
http://www.hmnews.org/article2557.html