Device Performs Balancing Act
From: Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Magazine - October 2005 - page 52
By: Maria Fontanazza

Researchers have created an auditory feedback device that can help fix
balance disorders. It can be used for balance rehabilitation and athletic
training. Oregon Health and Science University’s Neurological Sciences
Institute (Beaverton, OR) collaborated with the University of Bologna (Italy)
on the work.  

The device is customized for each user. The subject wears a set of
headphones, which are connected to a linear accelerometer that hooks onto the
person’s belt. Different tones and volumes tell the subject how far he or she
is moving away, in all directions, from the initial position. This allows a
person to correct balance before falling.  

Read the entire article at:
http://www.devicelink.com/mddi/archive/05/10/025.html

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

Fay B. Horak
http://www.hevanet.com/nsi/horak.htm

NIH Recognizes OHSU Researcher for Past Breakthroughs With New Grant
http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/newspub/releases/022305NIHhtml.cfm

Balancing Act: How to keep your balance and avoid falls
http://www.infoaging.org/feat34.html