Walk2Beat

Challenge: Create a 'smart' walking stick to map walking patterns of people with Parkinson’s Disease and prompt them to take a step if they experience a 'freezing episode'.

Insight: The design doesn’t draw unwanted attention to a person. It has a quiet haptic motor and a handle size similar to standard walking sticks. The stick starts up automatically when force is detected on the handle, and goes to sleep after being inactive.

Result: A functional 'smart' walking stick with bluetooth functionality engineered for clinical testing.