Britain Wins Award With Space Technology for Elderly
“I am delighted to be declared UK champion of the 2007 SatNav Challenge
award, and to represent our country in this prestigious European competition. This recognition will help us to transform Mobile Telecare into a reality, thereby helping thousands of older people to live the independent lives that we all take for granted.”
Eric Goodyer said after receiving his award.
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In 2007, space technology in the UK won the award out of 250 entries, with over 40% from the UK, for the UK SatNav Challenge, managed by HBIC—UK’s European Space Incubation Centre. The product which won the award is the MobiAssist—”utilizing accuracy and safety of life service from Global Navigation Satellite, Galileo, in parallel with Satellite Communications [from the HBIC, 2007].”
The MobiAssist device was made to use technology for the elderly which ranges from vital links to emergency services, and to home pathology kits which regularly read the medical data to monitor the home individual’s health. This program was developed by Eric Goodyer, who is the principal lecturer at the De Montfort University Leicester’s School of Computing and surpassed over 100 submissions to represent the UK in Europe. Sponsored by the British National Space Centre, this is the third year they have supported the competition, reinforcing the British’s position in development and innovation.
The HBIC, an independent team that provides business support, project management and knowledge exchange to knowledge based businesses around ICT, Space, Aerospace and Biotechnology across the UK and also internationally. They help develop new intellectual property and advances in the latest of technologies, built on an outstanding reputation for quality, service, and professionalism.
The MobiAssist was awarded the prize because it is estimated that over 25% of the European population will be age 65 and older by 2020, with more people requiring technological innovation to lead an independent lifestyle. This tool is considered the next generation of medical devices to create a platform for society to remain not only versatile but also independent through:
**Mobile phone technology
**Physiological sensors
**GNSS
These tools are to assist individuals to live independently in their communities, supporting the European Commission’s health care policies and to appreciate their independence. Considered a “tracking” device, it will also provide peace of mind to family members of the elderly, encourage a self-sufficient lifestyle, confidence, empowerment, support, independence, freedom, and adaptability to individual needs.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 at 5:58 pm and is filed under Public Relations, Space Agency News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
