How to Save a Life
DanaKai Bradford, Qing Zhang · 2016
This is the story of Mrs Elle*, a participant in a smart home pilot study. The pilot study was aimed to test the efficacy of sensors to capture in-home activity data including meal preparation, attention to hygiene and movement around the house. The in-home monitoring and response service associated with the sensors had not been implemented, and as such, data was not analyzed in real time. Sadly, Mrs Elle suffered a massive stroke one night, and was found some time after. She later died in hospital without regaining consciousness. This paper looks at the data leading up to Mrs Elle's stroke, to see if there were any clues that a neurological insult was imminent. We were most interested to know, had we been monitoring in real time, could the sensors have told us how to save a life'