Journal 6, June 7

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/usithealthcompanygtxaetrex

Today's market for GPS technology is continually evolving and growing. The advances that have been made are quite remarkable when it comes to finding yourself or others on the spot. Tracking people and things has already been incorporated into many applications; vehicles, cellphones, and stolen money are just a few examples. Announced recently, two companies have teamed up to form the first pair of shoes with GPS tracking capability to help fight the problem of wandering Alzheimer's patients. Research teams say the technology will provide the capability to locate an individual to within 30 feet. Having a grandmother that suffered from this disease, I see this new device to be very useful in the near future. It has become very typical for Alzheimer's patients to wander and become lost very often and easily. Andrew Carle, an assistant professor at George Mason University, recently stated, "Sixty percent of individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease will be involved in a 'critical wandering incident' at least once during the progression of the disease -- many more than once". It seems to me that this new technology will become very helpful when considering this shocking statistic. Since a cure has not yet been discovered for the Alzheimer's Disease, I think that any technology to help with its affects is vital. The developers have decided to embed this device in the shoe since it is natural for suffering patients to readily remove anything that is not typical to them. Perhaps the most unique feature of this technology is the ability to set a certain boundary for the patient. Will it shock them if they cross it? Not quite! If the boundary is crossed, authorized individuals will be notified via cellphone allowing them to immediate check on the patient. Testing on the product has not yet been conducted but will begin in the near future. I think this new technology will be very effective and comes at a great time of need. The only question I have is how the individual will know which pair of shoes to wear? I guess to make it simple, only one pair of shoes will be available for the individual.

http://www.geardiary.com/2009/06/06/gps-shoes-for-alzheimers-patients/