Re: Geezer Tracker

["wkearney99" <wkearney99@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Best of luck.  My Dad is 84 and he's starting to have problems.  The other
> day he fell down next to the pool and hurt his knee.  He couldn't get up
and
> my mom couldn't hear him.  He was stuck outside in 90+ weather -- pretty
> scary until she finally heard him.

Yikes, hope that doesn't happen again.  I had a next-door neighbor slip on
in the kitchen and get stuck for two days.

> There's a
> wireless button he can carry or wear on his wrist.  If he falls or if he
> presses the button...

Heh, a testament to the successes and failures of advertising.  I'm sure
everyone recalls "I've fallen and I can't get up!" but probably doesn't
remember the vendor making the pitch.

I'd be more inclined to want something more interactive.  Something that
asked them to periodically tap a button if they're OK.  It'd be tricky
making it avoid 'nagging' them all the time.  Perhaps a motion or heartbeat
sensor that sensed unexpected pattern changes.  Like lying still with a
suddenly elevated heart rate as an alarm condition, or a gradual increase
while moving being nothing more than regular activity and not an alarm;
unless it's outside the expected distance parameters (as in, gone walkies
without the pants...)

Given how the population's aging these days we'll hopefully see more devices
being developed that help deal with problems like these.