A young engineering student at the Catholic University ‘Pedro Aguilera’ in Chile led a team to create a device that alerts wheelchairs users when to perform small movements in order to avoid ulcers formation.
Thanks to this innovation, Aguilera achieved recognition by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for its contribution as researcher under 35 years old in Latin America.
The idea was born from his own experience; as at the age of 16, Aguilera had an accident that left him quadriplegic. “Being in the presence of people who were in worse condition than me, while I was in rehab, made me realize I could not let myself just dying. I had to take advantage that my head was intact; with my intellect and with I could manage,” Aguilera said.
That was how he created Prev UPP, an innovation that works through a cushion with sensors located under the person. Prev UPP sends messages to a smart phone via a Bluetooth connection, warning when the user needs to move to relieve stress and prevent risks.
Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over one billion people in the world live with some form of disability, representing 15% of the population.
Source: Agencia ID
