Ingenious magic carpet can raise the alarm when somebody falls over

Developers at the University of Manchester in the U.K. have unveiled a "magic carpet" that can detect when a person has fallen over and also if a person's existing walking patterns are deteriorating. The team says the innovation can help combat the problem of falls in the elderly. Optical fibres under the carpet detect pressure, which changes the light patterns at the carpet's edges. These patterns are then converted into electrical signals that are analyzed by a computer using medical scanner technology. The fibers can be easily added to existing carpets and the developers say using the "magic carpet" in care homes or hospital wards could raise the alarm immediately if someone falls and also "identity problems earlier on." [Source]

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