15 Year-Old's Brilliant Invention Will Keep Alzheimer's Patients From Getting Lost
February 15, 2015
15 year-old Kenneth Shinozuka dreams to someday cure Alzheimer's Disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association, of the estimated five million Americans with the disease, about 60 percent of them wander and often become dangerously lost as a result.
Shinozuka has invented a pressure sensor that when worn on the bottom of the foot or with a sock detects an increase in pressure and wirelessly sends an alert to a caregiver's smartphone. Shinozuka came up with the idea for the gadget from a personal experience, and then taught himself how to make it from scratch.
"My grandfather has lost the capability to eat by himself, to walk by himself, definitely to write and read. He can barely speak anymore. So it's very hard," says Shinozuka. "It's also very hard for my aunt, his primary caregiver, since she's the one who has to take care of him all the time."
Shinozuka's grandfather, Deming, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when Shinozuka was four years old and he regularly wanders out of bed at night. In the first six months Shinozuka attached his device, called the "Safe Wander," to his grandfather's sock, it detected all of Deming's 437 known cases of wandering out of bed with no false alarms.
His mother, Maria Feng, remembers that breakthrough. "We were so proud, and we also felt the power of the invention. The power of the technology. It was such a great moment."
Now, Shinozuka hopes to bring that "moment" to more families.
Credit: NBC News
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
Breathtaking: Hilarious Realtor Video Edit By Gen Z Employee Goes Viral
Woman Discovers Common Food Ingredient As The Ultimate Mosquito Repellent
A Hilarious Dog Story Told In Four Photos
Florida Police Urge People To Stop Taking Selfies With Bears
Experience The Thrill Of Mountain Biking In The Dolomites - Without The Danger!
Tornado Disrupts Wedding, Sends Guests To Basement. They Turned It Into A Magical Night
Young Man's Act Of Kindness For Woman At Concert Makes Her Day
Young Boy's Clever Kitchen Drawer Prank Leaves Dad Questioning Reality
Every Time The Power Goes Out, He Takes His Generator To His Elderly Neighbor's House
Gorilla Melts Hearts With Sweet Gesture Towards Newborn Baby
Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal' Comes To Life In Stunning Shadow Puppet Show