The University of Twente in the Netherlands is doing some unusual research in developing an app to help improve the gait of a group at high risk of falls–those with Parkinson’s disease. Current research has found that certain patterns and rhythms when viewed or heard improve gait, such as stripes on the floor or a metronome’s ticking. Glass or another intelligent glasses would display these pattern and/or rhythmic sound, and it would interact with the cameras and accelerometers already built into the devices. The MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine is working on the project together with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (Nijmegen), the Medisch Spectrum Twente hospital and the VUmc University Medical Centre in Amsterdam. Smart glasses can improve gait of Parkinson’s patients It also sounds like an investigatory area for smartphones and fitness bracelets. Hat tip to contributing editor Toni Bunting.
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I have Parkinson’s and have trouble with gait. I was wondering if you were offering the glasses without cost. I am a 22 year victim of Parkinson’s. I would like to try the glasses as part of a test group. Thank you
Barbara Hogg
Barbara, we are not involved with the research but I have sent to you directly the information on the head researcher (Prof. van Wezel) at the UT. Best of luck with this!