« Canada Invests in Vaccine Development | Main | Woes for Canadians with Spinal Difficulties »
April 03, 2007
Artificial Intelligence Systems to Support Independent Living
Source: Cape Breton Post. Sydney, Nova Scotia, Feb 20, 2007
Description of Issue:
For most of us, washing our hands, taking a pill or using the washroom are things we do without much conscious thought. But for people with dementia and their caregivers, these simple second-long tasks can stretch into minutes and become exercises in frustration. Researchers at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute are working on artificial intelligence systems, including a “smart bathroom”, that they hope will one day help people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia live more independent lives in their own homes. Dr. Alex Mihailidis, a biomedical engineer has developed a prototype interactive “talking bathroom” which assists people with dementia through the process of hand washing by giving them verbal and visual cues if they become confused about the correct sequence of steps. The system is designed to be sensitive to a patient’s needs. Initial research on a small sample shows a 25% increase in the number of hand washings (patients) were able to complete without having a human caregiver present.
Implication for Pharmacy:
Further research may focus on designing prototype technology that would be sensitive to patients requiring assistance from a pharmacist in terms of taking pills or other issues around medication. This technology would fit nicely in the expanding area of home infusion as more elderly patients choose to live independently in their own home.
Posted by mmacneil at April 3, 2007 08:55 PM