This is an EU/EMDA iNET Transport funded project, in collaboration with DMU, The project aims to investigate improving the technology support for Mobility scooters for out of home activities. Addressing the out-of-home activities is important as it is considered a factor of reducing the social isolation and to help improving the independence and life style of elderly.

A monitoring and navigation system (including in-door) is developed and mounted on a standard scooter. A shopping show-case is demonstrated and trialled at one of the Co-op supermarkets. See a demo here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGQm4GKfgN0

This project, in particular, attracted a lot of media coverage, local, national, and international, and BBC interviews. Examples of that can be found in the list below:

National/Europe/Wider:

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• Daily Telegraph, ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6772451/Mobility-scooters-to-be-fitted-with-tracking-technology-to-prevent-users-getting-lost.html )
• RAC news ( http://www.rac.co.uk/news-advice/motoring-news/post/2009/12/mobility-scooters-to-get-trackers/)
• Press Association  http://www.pressassociation.com/component/pafeeds/2009/12/09/new_mobility_scooter_technology?camefrom=specialist-news ).
• Technology news – News – Digital & tech – Virgin Media
• http://www.virginmedia.com/digital/news/technology-story.php?storyid=43635798
• E-Health Insider :: Researchers work on telehealth scooter
• http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/5487/researchers_work_on_telehealth_scooter
• Mobility Products/Compare Blog
• http://www.blog.mobilitycompare.co.uk/?p=43

Regional/Local:

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• Lincolnshire Echo ( http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Uni-develops-trackers-mobility-scooters/article-1601844-detail/article.html ),
• Leicester Mercury ( http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Scooter-tracker-bring-freedom-elderly/article-1602851-detail/article.html )
• BBC Lincolnshire, Radio Interviews with Dr Ahmed (recordings available).

And various business pages including

• ThisIsBusiness.eastmidlands.co.uk

http://www.thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk/electronicandelectricalequipment/Scooter-tracker-bring-freedom-elderly/article-1602851-detail/article.html

• The story has also gone world-wide on the web appearing in many specialist on-line journals, such as http://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/newsflash/fast-tracking-mobility-for-seniors/
• It was also included in the FAST (Foundation for Assistive Technology) research database: http://www.fastuk.org/research/projview.php?id=1595

We also received requests from BBC LookNorth and ITV for filming our system’s prototype, and this is in planning.

Always nice to attend the graduation ceremony and join my students in this important event.