To develop durable, sensitive, low cost wearable sensors for remote monitoring of individuals at risk.

Globally diabetes poses a major challenge, both at a national and an individual level. The economic impact and the effects on quality of life are very significant and growing. Nearly, 400 million people suffer from diabetes across the world. In the UK 3.2 million people have been diagnosed and it is estimated that there may be almost another 0.8 million undiagnosed. For the UK the cost of treatment is estimated to be approaching £1B annually, with the wider cost of complications estimated to be £9B. Buddi proposes to develop an IT/e health system/platform which gathers patient data on activity, eating behaviours and patterns and thoughts and feelings about their diabetes self management. The system will then analyse and make supportive and motivational interventions and feedback to the patient to prompt, encourage and facilitate him/her to become more confident and willing to change their behaviours. For example, changing the habit of eating “late” to one of eating earlier in the evening or at a more appropriate time, eating nutrionally balanced meals, managing cravings, comfort eating in response to low mood or stress and perceptions of low blood sugar. The purpose of this project is to determine if targeted motivational information/prompts as feedback on biological data collected via wearable technology can reduce weight and increase physical activity; the two main risk factors for type-2 diabetes.

The UK and many countries face the “demographic time bomb” of an ageing and longer lived population (http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/time-to-think-differently/trends/demography). Much of this population will and does live alone. It will also suffer from a range of health issues (for example dementia, Alzheimer’s, physical frailty) which can restrict their participation in society and limit quality of life. There are over 800,000 people in the UK alone who require daily support for dementia and approximately 3 million people per annum,who suffer falls. Those unintentionally falling are largely clustered in the senior age category with the most severe consequences for themselves and the services that support them. Buddi will build on its existing personal alarm technology (using GPS/mobile services and a wrist worn alarm/activity/fall monitor) by developing a critical event sensing detector which can ultimately be incorporated into its products. The events of interest will allow a pattern of life to be developed and exceptions identified. Through this development more intelligent telecare support services will be made available letting people maintain an independent but safe life style.