Image source: Astraline
Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University are planning to use data from movement sensors in a study aimed at reducing accidents in the home among older people.
They are working in partnership with digital devices provider Astraline – part of the Johnnie Johnson Housing Association (JJH) – with funding from the Dunhill Medical Trust to understand domestic behaviour and support the development of new human-centric architecture.
The partners are planning to run the study using data from two housing sites for over-55s in Manchester, where volunteer residents will wear a series of sensors to measure their body and eye movements.
The technology includes an accelerometer, eye tracking software and a wristband that measures heart rate and electrodermal activity – indicators of anxiety levels. These should provide data in more detail than would be achievable through manual recording methods.
Walking and vision
Over three years, the sensors will track the residents’ walking characteristics and what they look at as they move through their homes. The data will then be used to create 3D blueprints of living environments optimised for safety.
Around 20 residents will initially take part in the study, wearing the movement trackers for up to a week and eye trackers for a maximum of 90 minutes at a time. They will also be monitored with Apple air tags to ascertain when they are not at home.
The study will compare residents in an older location with a more modern, recently refurbished property.
Astraline said the outcomes of the study could have a big impact on the prevention of falls and accidents in the home, which are estimated to costs NHS England £435 million per year.
Previous research has indicated that the causes often lie in design details such as lighting, floor colour schemes and distracting features.
Seeing hazards
Dr Timmion Skervin, a biomechanist at Liverpool John Moores, explained: “Tests in our biomechanics laboratory have shown that some older people don’t always move their eyes in an optimal way when walking. The ability to see hazards clearly can be affected by colours, patterns or simply lighting which is too dim.
“Anxiety about falling can also change looking and stepping behaviour which, paradoxically, can increase the risk of falls.”
Mark Hollands, professor of movement neuroscience at the university, said: “Our study will turn participants’ homes into living laboratories and will produce data that can be fed into design software, routinely used by architects and interior designers, with a view to making our homes safer.
“We want to understand exactly how we navigate around our homes and why little details might lead to trips, falls and accidents.”
Preventing accidents
Joe McLoughlin, managing director of Astraline, said: “We are excited to see what a difference this could make in real terms for JJH residents and beyond. Some of the key aspects of our work are to try to prevent accidents before they happen, and help residents to live safely, and for longer, at home.
“This research could pave the way to a rethink in how housing associations and developers design homes. Creating safer homes for residents and reducing avoidable injuries.”
