Thirteen-year-old Kevin Tang is making a name for himself in the fields of science and elderly care. Hailing from Southern California, the eighth-grade student has recently gained recognition with his invention, FallGuard, a fall-detection device. He just won a $25,000 prize and was awarded the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”
Kevin stated that his invention stemmed from a personal experience of hardship. About five years ago, his grandmother who lived with his family had a fall at home. “No one noticed immediately at that time, and by the time we found her and called 911, she had suffered permanent brain damage. It was really frightening.”
Years later, a friend’s grandfather also experienced a fall accident. This made Kevin realize the prevalence and dangers of falls. “A friend’s grandfather, who lived alone in another state, fell at home, and his family didn’t find out until the next day,” Kevin explained during an interview with “The Street.” “It was because of this that I realized how serious the problem is, with millions of families facing the same risks every year.”
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, falls are a major cause of injury among adults aged 65 and older, with approximately one-quarter of elderly individuals reporting falls each year.
Unlike traditional fall-detection devices that need to be worn on the wrist or neck, Kevin’s FallGuard is a non-wearable camera monitoring system. Users only need to set up the camera at home and connect it to a small computer. By analyzing video input, the system can alert family members of a fall through a corresponding smartphone application.
Mark Gilbertson, Kevin’s mentor, explained that the breakthrough in the technology of the system lies in using AI to detect the position of the user’s shoulder and elbow joints. Kevin’s programmed algorithm can accurately determine falls based on this data, ensuring continuous operation even at night.
The device can also detect irregular movements when patients are walking, which could be a symptom of a stroke.
Kevin pointed out that his innovation addresses the pain points of traditional devices. “My friend’s grandfather had a fall detection watch, but because he forgot to charge it the day before, no one knew about the fall until the next day.”
Kevin’s goal is to make FallGuard either free or as affordable as possible. Currently, the material cost of manufacturing one device is around $90, but he is working hard to reduce costs to $30 by using different computer components.
Kevin’s father, Yang Tang, is proud of his son’s invention. He told “USA Today” that his son has always been passionate about inventing and experimenting with various “weird things” at home. Initially, Mr. Tang was unaware that Kevin was developing FallGuard, but when Kevin showed him the project, he realized its potential.
“We will definitely make this product to help everyone,” Mr. Tang told his son.
Currently, FallGuard has been installed in Kevin’s home and has been adopted by another family, with over a dozen families on the waiting list, indicating a strong demand in the market for this innovative technology.