Vayyar Imaging, a 3D imaging sensor company, has introduced its first smart home product called Walabot HOME, a device which can detect falls at home.
The exterior design of Walabot is a white square device which can be stuck on the wall. The device can detect a fall without cameras or other sensors installed.
With the 3D imaging-sensing technology, Walabot HOME uses low-power radio wave, similar to the Wi-Fi signal, to detect if a person is standing, sitting, lying down or falling down within an area of 100 square feet.
Just like Wi-Fi signals, the device can sense a person through walls and curtains which would otherwise block cameras. Walabot is less invasive compared with a camera installed at home or a wearable device.
The elderly who live alone at home usually don’t want to be controlled or monitored extensively, while their children often worry whether any accidents might have happened since no one was there to help. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., 29 million people over 65 years old fall in a year, resulting in seven million injuries.
When the Walabot HOME detects a fall, it will notify the pre-saved contact via a mobile app instead of calling 911. Only one emergency contact can be saved, so that help in response to the accident can be sent as quickly as possible.
When the device senses there are two people at home and one falls down, it won’t trigger the emergency response. “If other people are present, they should be able to help in the event of a fall,” said the company to CNET.
The Walabot HOME is the company’s first product. The sensing technology could be very helpful for the elderly living independently at home. The response action after a fall could be further improved to give users more flexibility to react to the accident.
The Walabot HOME is now available in the U.S. for US$250.