SPHERE health monitoring project launches

An innovative new health project which could help save lives by detecting and preventing medical conditions in the home was officially launched last week at the University of Bristol. The £12 million Sensor Platform for Healthcare in a Residential Environment (SPHERE) project will develop a system of sensors for homes which could, for example, spot overnight or mini-strokes by noticing small changes in behaviour or expression. It could also be used at home as an early warning system to prevent long-term health conditions such as heart disease, dementia and diabetes as well as depression and obesity. The sensors could also benefit the older population by helping to prevent falls. The five-year project is an Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration (IRC) funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and led by the University of Bristol, together with the Universities of Southampton and Reading. They are working with industrial partners Toshiba and IBM, and with Bristol City Council and Knowle West Media Centre, the latter of which will be leading on the community engagement for the project. Director of SPHERE, Professor Ian Craddock in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bristol, said: "This exciting new project will revolutionise healthcare in the home.