3D Imaging in Fall Detection

While pendant’s are still commonly used by seniors to monitor fall detection, sometimes they can come across as an inconvenience.

Noga Barpal, an employee at an up and coming fall detection tech company, said, “a lot of times if you’re getting up to go to the bathroom at night, you might be at risk of falling then but you didn’t remember to wear your pendant.” The company working to change that risk is known as Vayyar. Vayyar have created a fall detection device that mounts to a wall, and uses 3D imaging to scan for movement.

The device is known as Walabot Home. It can be placed in a user’s bathroom (where, according to Barpal, 80% of falls happen), to detect if a resident falls while they are in the room. This is important, as people who wear medical pendants might have taken their devices off for the night, not thinking to put it back on when they get up to make a quick stop to the bathroom.

How It Works

Walbot Home, the consumer version of Vayyar’s 3D imaging sensor, can track a person’s location and vital signs as they move through a smart home. It still offers privacy by using motion sensing technology based on radio wave signals instead of cameras, and the 3D radar can detect when a person goes from standing to lying on the bathroom floor. If a person is lying down, a sensor will start beeping. Walbot will then call the user’s emergency contacts.

Users also don’t have to worry about devices getting wet, as its hands-free connection functions like a smart home panel. It gives seniors a sense of security and independence, a viable option if they live alone. The device also provides a call feature, where if a user falls or needs assistance, the device will establish a connection with an emergency contact.

Radar-Imaging Vs. Central Monitoring

One downfall to Vayyar’s sensor is a situation where if a fall happens and an emergency contact doesn’t answer. Because the device works by being dependant upon the setup contacts, it has the possibility of rendering the user helpless, where they are dependant upon that contact and thereby unable to get emergency medical help.

This is where a monitoring center like AvantGuard will come in handy. Operators are staffed 24/7 and go through weeks of training prior to working with subscribers, so that response time is quick and efficient. Emergency contacts will also be alerted, but the priority is first with the consumer.

AvantGuard also monitors many other aspects beyond PERS devices. Subscribers can keep track of personal and property safety when it comes to fire, security, and IoT. This allows for a peace of mind for both the subscriber and their family. A system crashing is not a worry, as redundancy makes sure that all information is backed up at a second location. To find out what other features exist for security monitoring, reach out to AvantGuard.