Mumbai teens' innovative walking stick revolutionises elderly care | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a world where technological innovations are rapidly transforming healthcare, two 17-year-old students from Mumbai have created a groundbreaking device. The device could significantly improve the lives of senior citizens.

Rahi Shah and Hriday Boriawala, students of RN Podar International School, Santacruz, developed Walkfit, a walking stick equipped with advanced pressure and gyro sensors. It is designed to monitor movement, pressure, and balance.

The idea behind Walkfit was inspired by their personal experiences. Both Shah and Boriawala observed their grandparents struggle with mobility after undergoing surgeries—one for a hip replacement and the other for a knee replacement.

They noticed how difficult it was for their grandparents to communicate their discomfort, leading to challenges in diagnosing and addressing mobility issues. This observation sparked their determination to find a solution.

The duo, who are also students at the Omotec Centre in Vile Parle, utilised their knowledge of coding and robotics to design a device that could provide real-time data on a patient’s mobility.

Walkfit appears to be a simple walking stick, but it’s far more sophisticated than it looks.

Equipped with pressure sensors on the handle and four-prong grip, as well as gyro sensors to detect tilt, the stick sends data via Bluetooth to a laptop, where it is analyzed using machine learning algorithms.

This data is then displayed as a pressure heatmap, allowing doctors and caregivers to diagnose issues such as hip or lower back problems more accurately.

The sensors measure the pressure applied by the user and monitor changes in movement, helping to predict and prevent falls. The potential benefits are vast, including early diagnosis of motor disabilities and continuous monitoring of day-to-day changes in a patient’s condition.

Shah and Boriawala’s invention has already gained attention at prominent events like the IIT Tech Fest and the World STEM and Robotics Olympiad in 2023.

Looking ahead, they hope to develop Walkfit into a mobile app that could alert caregivers in emergencies and allow remote monitoring of patients’ progress.

Walkfit represents a significant step forward in elderly care, offering a practical and technologically advanced solution to a common problem.

As these young innovators continue to refine their invention, they remain committed to using technology as a tool for good, aiming to make a positive impact on the lives of many.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on March 14, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1130811