MEMS Technology to Improve Quality of Life for the Aging
From: Medical Electronics Design - 08/31/2011
By: Daniel P. Siewiorek

MEMS sensors can help make healthcare technology sensitive to patients’ needs
and abilities, significantly enhancing the user experience. 

With the Baby Boomer generation reaching retirement age, a wave of elderly
citizens is about to hit the United States. As people get older, they become
more likely to develop serious health conditions. The CDC reports that 1.5
million people currently reside in skilled nursing homes. The spike in
elderly citizens will likely result in major shortages of caregivers and
assisted care facilities. Worldwide, there were 357 million people aged 65
and older in 1990; that number is expected to more than double by 2025, to
761 million. 

There are several projects in development at the Quality of Life Technology
Center, an engineering research center run by Carnegie Mellon University and
the University of Pittsburgh and sponsored by the NSF, that provide examples
of how MEMS technology can improve a user’s quality of life. These projects
enhance quality of life in relation to the user’s mind, body, and community. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.medicalelectronicsdesign.com/article/quality-life-assurance

Links:
Quality of Life Technology Center
http://www.cmu.edu/qolt/
http://www.qolt.pitt.edu/

MemExerciser
http://www.matthewrae.com/The_Forgetfuls/MemeXerciser.html
http://www.cmu.edu/qolt/QoLTFoundry/documents/memexerciser_factsheet.pdf

First-Person Vision
http://www.cmu.edu/qolt/QoLTFoundry/documents/05_firstpersonvision.pdf

Roof's the limit for company
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_491875.html

Blueroof Technologies (video)
http://www.wqed.org/ondemand/onq.php?cat=&id=220&search=Blueroof%20Technologies