AI device for nursing homes can monitor elderly residents using radio waves

A radar-like tool that can track movements throughout the day without using an invasive camera could be used in care homes to alert staff if a resident falls over. A team from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence lab say the goal was to create a device that can track movement without physical contact. A sensor on the wall sends out a continuous low power radio wave and when the waves hits a person or object they bounce back to the sensor. The sensor can then analyse the wave for information about the environment and tell exactly what the person in the room is doing - continuously throughout the day. Researchers say this could be used to create a diary of movement and alert staff if a resident in a care home falls over or doesn't move for a long period of time.