The Apple Watch is a popular smartwatch that includes a number of health monitoring features, from tracking steps to heart rate. Recent versions of the Apple Watch include a fall detection feature, designed to sense when a fall has occurred and trigger a call to emergency services if the fall is followed by a period of inactivity. In a new TechSAge publication in Assistive Technology, researchers explored whether or not the device can accurately detect falls among wheelchair users. Findings revealed that the Apple Watch fall detection feature had poor sensitivity to detect intentional falls from a wheelchair and highlight the need for a reliable fall detection and alert system for wheeled device users. Article from Abou et al., available upon request.

Lelah Cochran is an undergraduate computer engineering student at Georgia Tech. As a research assistant for the Tele Tai Chi Study, Lelah supports all aspects of the project from developing materials, to screening participants, to collecting data. She serves as a Tech Moderator during the online tai chi classes for older adults with long-term mobility disabilities, responsible for broadcasting the exercise lessons on Zoom and helping with any tech issues that arise. When Lelah is not working or studying, she enjoys reading intimidatingly big fantasy books, drinking iced coffee, and taking long walks with her dog.