A Rollator-Mounted Wayfinding System for the Elderly: Proof-of-Concept Design and Preliminary Technical Evaluation

Surveys show that a great number of U.S. residents would like to maintain their independent status in their homes and communities as long as possible. Intelligent walkers are the focus of research aimed at helping elderly individuals to maintain their independence. Several robotic walkers have been developed by investigators at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. This paper contributes to this research venue by describing the proof-of-concept design and preliminary technical evaluation of iWalker, a three-sensor rollator-mounted wayfinding system for the elderly. Unlike previous and ongoing research efforts, iWalker emphasizes a smart world (SW) perspective. A SW is a physical space equipped with embedded sensors. Two consequences of the SW perspective are simplified on-board machinery and low cost.