Bristol Scientist Develops Smart Shoe to Help Prevent Falls Among Older People

A researcher at the University of Bristol has developed an innovative “smart shoe” designed to help older adults maintain their balance and reduce the risk of falls. The prototype was inspired by a personal observation: the inventor noticed that his 89-year-old mentor had become unsteady on his feet.

Dr Jiayang Li, a lecturer in electrical engineering at the University of Bristol, created the device after seeing his long-time mentor, Peter Langlois, nearly lose his balance. Concerned about the potentially serious consequences of a fall—particularly for elderly individuals living alone—Dr Li began exploring how his expertise in semiconductor technology could offer a practical solution.

The result is a futuristic shoe fitted with a specially designed insole containing 253 miniature sensors. These sensors collect highly detailed, real-time data about the wearer’s gait and weight distribution. The information can be transmitted to a tablet or smartphone, where it is processed and displayed as visual feedback. The system generates images of the foot, highlights pressure points, and assesses whether the wearer’s walking pattern suggests instability or an elevated risk of falling.

Dr Li explained that his earlier research focused on advanced sensors capable of measuring lung function and identifying breathing restrictions. He realized that similar sensing and data-processing techniques could be adapted to monitor movement and balance. By mapping leg and foot motions in detail, the system can detect subtle irregularities that may indicate declining stability.

Although comparable assessments can be conducted in clinical settings, they typically require bulky equipment and hospital visits. Dr Li’s goal was to miniaturize the technology and make it accessible for everyday use. “That’s what makes our shoe so special,” he noted, emphasizing that portability and convenience represent a significant step forward in fall prevention technology.

At the heart of the innovation is a custom-designed microchip capable of reading data from all 253 sensors simultaneously. Despite its complexity, the device is highly energy-efficient. Operating at just 100 microwatts, it can run for approximately three months on a low-voltage battery before needing to be recharged. In principle, it could even be powered by small consumer devices such as smartphones or smartwatches, further enhancing its practicality.

Fall prevention is a major public health challenge in ageing societies. Falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence among older adults, often resulting in hospitalisation or long-term care. By identifying early warning signs of imbalance, the smart shoe aims to help individuals take preventative action—whether through medical consultation, physiotherapy, or lifestyle adjustments—before a serious accident occurs.

Dr Li said his mentor was deeply moved by the idea that the technology might one day benefit thousands of people. The concept is designed with scalability in mind, and the insole could potentially be mass-produced at relatively low cost.

The research will be presented this week at a conference hosted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Looking ahead, Dr Li and his team plan to conduct formal clinical trials involving a larger and more diverse group of participants. These studies will evaluate the device’s accuracy in predicting fall risk and help refine its data analysis capabilities.

If successful, the smart shoe could represent a transformative advance in supporting independence and safety for older people worldwide.