An article over on the BBC details exciting news about research being done regarding how carpets can be used to detect or even predict falls.
The “magic carpet” that was demonstrated had a grid of sensors beneath it comprised of fiber optic strands that detect and plot movement as pressure from above bends them. Detectors at the edge of the carpet then convert the light returned into a signal that a computer then analyzed.
Can you imagine the uses for this type of carpet in the homes of our elderly? As we age, we want to keep our independence, and children want to maintain our safety. Carpets with sensors such as this could provide the peace of mind required for both.
You can read the entire article here.