Smart house

The Smart Medical Home is the result of work across several disciplines at the University of Rochester, New York. Housed at the Center for Future Health, the home showcases medical technology in a home setting. The Smart Medical Home at first glance looks like a regular apartment with a dining room, living room, bedroom and kitchen. However, upon closer inspection, you can see the adjoining room filled with high-tech computers and gadgets that are meant to help us live a healthier and happier future. The intention behind the University's Smart Medical Home was to change the way people approach their health. This cross-disciplinary effort combines experts in a wide range of disciplines from engineering, computer scientists, social scientists, dermatologists and physicians. Technology utilized in this futuristic home includes infrared sensors, computers, biosensors and video cameras. There is a scanning system behind a mirror that can take three-dimensional images of your skin and check for features such as moles. A gait monitor is being developed to track the way residents walk. This could indicate the development of diseases such as Parkinson's at an early stage, aiding with treatment and prevention. A good demonstration of what this technology can accomplish is "Chester the Pill." Chester is a computer-generated icon that functions as your own personal medical advisor. He can dispense information about medications, side effects and other medical issues. This technology can discuss medical information with residents in real time utilizing advanced artificial intelligence and speech-recognition software. Another technology being developed is a "smart" bandage that can detect the presence of bacteria on your skin. Scientists are now determining if the same technology can be utilized to detect pathogens on food packaging or cutting boards. The bandage looks just like a normal bandage but within a minute or two of being placed on a wound can tell a person if he has one