Internet of Things - Personal Environments for Support of Dementia or other Long Term Health Conditions

"The aim of this project is to investigate and develop solutions for how the Internet of Things (IoT), defined as a network of physical objects that contain embedded technology to communicate and sense or interact with their internal states or the external environment, can be used to support people with dementia or other long term health conditions such as stroke to live independently and enjoy an active lifestyle for as long as possible after diagnosis.

People live for many years after the onset of symptoms of dementia or with the effects of other long term conditions such as stroke, and with appropriate support, many can maintain a good quality of life and continue to engage and contribute within society. Whilst technology can never replace the value of personal care it can help support a person as they grow older and can be useful for helping them maintain their independence.

As mobile and sensor and microcontroller technologies (e.g. iBeacon, NFC, RFID, PIC Arduino etc.) mature, converge and combine to become the Internet-of-Things objects and people are provided with unique identifiers, automatic transfer of data and communication can occur between them without the need for human intervention. By embedding such technologies into everyday objects with a person’s home (mirror’s, doors, kitchen appliances etc.) and local environment (gardens, lampposts, shops etc.) and connecting them directly or indirectly to the internet via cloud-based services a wide range of command, control, monitoring and support facilities can be provided to support everyday independent living, encourage physical and mental activity and support communication.

The challenge of this project is to model and develop an IOT system that works in conjunction with many small low cost, low powered sensors placed around a person’s home and local environment in order to provide a ubiquitous and personalized aide to everyday living, stimulation and communication for people in early to mid stages of dementia or those with other long term conditions.

How to apply:
Please submit an application for a PhD in Biomedical Engineering or Electronic Engineering (initial registration) (full-time) to the University using the link below. When prompted to provide details of a potential supervisor, you should enter “Professor Rachel McCrindle”.
http://www.reading.ac.uk/graduateschool/prospectivestudents/gs-how-to-apply.aspx

Further Enquiries:
Professor Rachel McCrindle ([Email Address Removed])"