Falls are the second global cause of death due to unintentional injuries and one of the main reasons for hospitalization in people over 65 years of age.
The problem is not only medical, since a fall can mark the end of independent life for someone who until then was able to fend for themselves.
A researcher at the University of Bristol has developed a prototype that aims to solve this problem; This is Dr. Jiayang Li, professor of electrical engineering.
His project began after observing his mentor, 89-year-old Peter Langlois, lose his balance one day.
That situation was enough for Li to wonder if the semiconductor technology he had been working on for years could have a direct application in the lives of people like him.
A series of chips on the sole of the shoe
The device that Dr. Li has designed looks like a conventional shoe, but its sole incorporates 253 tiny sensors connected to a chip developed specifically for this project.
It should be noted that The processor has the ability to read all sensors simultaneously and process the data in real time, generating detailed images of the foot that identify pressure points and evaluate whether gait presents signs of instability.
The information arrives wirelessly to a mobile phone, where it can be consulted without the need for medical equipment. In addition, the energy consumption of the microchip is just 100 microwatts, allowing up to three months of continuous use without recharging.
The scientist had already worked on similar sensors applied to lung function, in collaboration with University College London. The logic was transferable: If you could precisely map how a person breathes, you could also map how they walk..
It is important to mention that gait analysis to detect advanced fall risk is not a new technique, but until now it required hospital equipment.
In fact, the real advance of this prototype is having compressed that capacity into a shoe sole that can be worn any day, anywhere and at all hours of the day.
A device that can save lives
The prototype was presented on February 18 at the International Solid State Circuits Conference, known as ISSCC 2026, organized by the IEEE in San Francisco, United States.
It is one of the most relevant forums in the world on circuit technological innovation, and representatives from companies such as Nvidia, Samsung and Intel attended the event. Dr Li’s research paper was the only one presented at the event that was led entirely by a British scientist.
The next step is a formal clinical evaluation with a larger and more diverse user group to validate the system’s ability to accurately predict falls. Next will come work with clinical and industrial partners to scale production.
It should be noted that the prototype exists and has solid support, but there is still a long way to go. Clinical validation, the manufacturing chain and the final cost to the consumer are variables that have not yet been resolved.
If they are resolved, This shoe could represent a relevant change in focus, since it would go from treating the consequences of a fall to anticipating it with a device on the foot and an autonomy of three months on a single charge.