Preliminary study of unobtrusive monitoring to increase safety in daily living

An unobtrusive system for monitoring the activities of daily living was developed to improve safety and quality of life. The system was used to monitor walking and safety while bathing. To monitor waking, a matrix array of pyro-electric sensors was installed on the ceiling; to prevent drowning, an accelerometer was installed in the bathtub. The matrix of pyro-electric sensors estimated the walking speed at home and the accelerometer detected the respiratory rate (RR) and apnea. This system might be effective for promoting health in the home.