Video Games. When most people hear those two words, the image that comes to mind is of boisterous boys playing Grand Theft Auto, or tech savvy wunderkinds beating complicated games at age 11. A generator of controversy, many believe that the more violent games are shaping the younger generation to be more violent and careless of consequences. But what would those critics say to the idea that video game technology is actually saving lives?

At least that’s what Marjorie Skubic thinks. She is a professor of electrical and computer engineering in the MU College of Engineering who is working with doctoral student Erik Stone on new ways to red flag health problems. Using Microsoft (News - Alert) Kinect, a motion-sensing camera on-site at TigerPlace, an assisted living community, she monitors behavior patterns of seniors. Not only can they sense a fall, they can hone in on early symptoms of disease.

And it’s not invasive, as one might think. As Skubic expresses, “The Kinect uses infrared light to create a depth image that produces data in the form of a silhouette, instead of a video or photograph.” As the older generation is understandably more reluctant to be constantly surrounded by videos or modern surveillance gadgets, this poses an interesting solution that respects their rights without compromising safety.

She is not alone in exploring how this type of technology can aid senior citizens. Liang Liu is a doctoral student at the same institution as Skubic, the University of Missouri. In co-operation with Mihail Popescu, assistant professor in the College of Engineering and the Department of Health Management and Informatics, they are studying the use of Doppler Radar in monitoring bodily changes that results in greater possibilities of falls.

Lest you dismiss this as a minor concern in relation to other health-care problems, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has statistic that will change your mind. Released in a 2007 study, they had some ominous findings:

• Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of injuries and hospital admissions for trauma among adults aged 65 or older.
• Fall-related injuries cause significant mortality, disability, loss of independence, and early admission to nursing homes.
• Each year, 360,000–480,000 older adults sustain fall-related fractures.

In 2004, falls were the leading cause of injury deaths among older adults and were responsible for about 14,900, or almost 43 percent, of all unintentional injury deaths in this age group.

Ultimately this is not something that should be dealt with lightly. Skubic, Liu and others are pioneering technology advancements that could someday save your grandmother, or favorite great-uncle. And who would have thought that it originated from something like Mario Kart or Guitar Hero?

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