Tracker shoe monitors, keeps tabs on dementia patients in Japan

According to The Asahi Shimbun, a Tokyo company is hoping its special shoes with an embedded tracker are the perfect fit for families who have loved ones with dementia.
Achilles Corp., known for its shoes and plastic products, based in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, created the special footwear for dementia patients who may wander off. They will help families or caregivers to keep track of and locate the patients at all times.
The newly created shoes have a small transmitter installed and can help locate the wearer within a 300-meter radius.
Achilles co-developed the footwear with Kato Denki Inc., which produces anti-theft devices for cars.
Achilles’ shoes for the elderly and Kato Denki’s transmission device and detection system are combined for the wearable device.
When a dementia patient wearing the shoes wanders out of a designated area, such as their home or a nursing-care facility, caregivers or families are immediately notified by e-mail.
Moreover, a dedicated terminal screen will display the direction and distance of the patient.
The shoes will be sold at the Achilles' online shop starting this month.
They will be priced at around 200,000 yen (US$1,800), which includes the connection fee for two years. After that period, the connection fee will cost 50,000 yen (US$454) a year.

Ref: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201706040003.html
 
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https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/1021073
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