High-Tech Walkers: CU Boulder Students Develop Upgrades

BOULDER, CO — CU Boulder engineering students are putting their education to work in the form of high-tech walkers for senior citizens. The undergraduates set up something of a mechanic shop at Sunrise of Boulder to repair walkers, but are testing out their new designs, according to the CU Boulder Today website.

While they fixed up squeaky wheels, loose brakes and other issues residents of Sunrise were experiencing, they were also testing out some newly designed accessories which they hope will mitigate falls, which can often be debilitating for seniors.

One accessory is a new set of handles for the walker which vibrates when the user puts too much weight on it, according to the website. This could serve to keep weight balanced properly.

It's the age of data collection, and these students are implementing that idea in walkers as well. A small sensor collects data on users' walking patterns, the university said, which could give providers useful data to shape health interventions.

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"They just have to plug it in every night," said Timothy Visos-Ely, a member of the engineering team. "That’s the only interaction they have to have with the device at all."

Through their work, the engineering students are making some friends. "They loved talking to us, which has been super exciting," Visos-Ely said, according to the school.

See the CU Boulder Today website for the full report.