Technological challenges addressing needs of increasingly ageing population were the focus of London Technology Network's latest networking event, on 5 July at Royal Institute of British Architects
The event drew more than 100 representatives from academia and industry, to discuss and forge contacts in the field of Ambient Assisted Living technologies which enable the aged to remain in their homes for longer.
EDF Energy and Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems rubbed shoulders with Imperial College London and University College London (UCL) at the evening of talks, technology presentations and networking.
Twenty-five displays of innovations in the field were on show, including work on novel biopotential wireless human monitoring from the University of Surrey, intelligent adaptive robotic wheelchair platforms from Imperial College London and the remodelling of housing for extra care from a King's College London and UCL interdisciplinary group.
Guest speakers representing the best of academia and industry spoke on the latest research prior to the networking.
Professor Guang-Zhong Yang of Imperial College London spoke on the latest developments in body sensor networks, while Dave Foster, head of business development at Initial Attendo addressed the benefits of telecare networks in the care of the aged.
Basim Majeed of the BT chief technology office spoke on intelligent systems for monitoring the behaviour of the disabled or elderly in the home.
The evening was chaired by Justin Halls, research manager of bioengineering at Brunel University.
Simon Aliwell of the Sensors Knowledge Transfer Network said LTN events represented an excellent resource.
"I always make good contacts at LTN events - whether in industry or academia," Aliwell said.
"It's very valuable - and this event presented the best mapping of academic expertise in sensors I have seen."
