Application of a commodity smartphone for fall detection

Abstract

This paper presents a low-cost fall detection solution based on the use of a commodity smartphone. By collecting, processing and analyzing in real-time signals collected from the smartphone built-in sensors (tri-axis accelerometer and tri-axis gyroscope), the device is able to differentiate a genuine fall occurrence from routine motions of normal daily activities. This enables to generate an immediate alert to a caretaker (such as healthcare personnel, a family member or helper) if a monitored person falls.