element14 Sets Engineers a Potentially Lifesaving Challenge

LONDON, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Engineers on the element14 Community are being invited to develop an intelligent solution for people living with cognitive impairments and other long term conditions that could change their lives.

Project Nocturne, run in conjunction with the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering and Armley Helping Hands in Leeds, UK, hopes to find a reliable solution that will alert a relative or carer if their loved one is not safely in bed at night, or fails to get up in the morning.

Often the safety of people with long term conditions are dependent on a pendant or wrist worn alarm. At night these become less reliable, are stored away from the patient, can fall off or set alarms unnecessarily. Additionally, telecare solutions like Bed Occupancy Sensors (BOS) that are built in to mattresses can also be problematic due to technical problems and short lifespan.

Project Nocturne will draw on the experience and expertise of engineers and only end once a suitable solution has been found. element14 will then partner with Newcastle based telecare and telehealth solutions provider TyneTec to assess the commercial viability and potential for manufacture and production. 

Design engineers can get involved in the project and offer their help and advice to develop a workable solution on the element14 Community.

"Knowing that your loved one is safe is something we always seem to take for granted. But as people grow older and start to suffer from long term conditions it can become a huge concern for family and carers," commented Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community, element14.

Dawn Newsome, Project Manager at Armley Helping Hands, said: "This is a great opportunity for charities that don't have the necessary funding to work with the business sector in supporting people with cognitive impairments through new technologies, skills & experience, allowing them and their carers to maintain their independence."

About the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering

BIME is a design and development organisation working to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and healthcare problems.

"Newark element14 is a high-service distributor of technology products and solutions for electronic system design, maintenance and repair including an extensive range ofdevelopment kits, capacitors, resistors, connectors, switches / relays, semi conductors and cables."

Global Contact:
Ken Leitch
Global Head of PR
Premier Farnell plc
Tel: +44(0)20-7851-4145
E-mail: [email protected]    

SOURCE Newark element14