Researchers at the University of South Carolina have developed a new program to aid in fall prevention for the elderly. It uses sensors originally designed to monitor bridge safety and an algorithm to detect vibrations associated with movement, according to an article on the school's website. The sensors are placed on the floor of a room, and transmit any vibrations to a nearby computer, which relays them to a family member's or other caretaker's smartphone or computer. "In this case, the program detects vibrations [a possible fall], the exact spot of the vibrations and then estimates the force of impact of the object hitting the floor," lead researcher Juan Caicedo says. "It can identify the impact of a small ball bouncing or the weight of an adult." Article