About

Our project SEAMLESS aims to create Intelligent Sensing to Promote Self-management of Posture and Mobility in Community dwelling Individuals. This was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through their Transforming Community Health programme. The project will use the principals of co-production to develop a new sensing technology which can support self-management strategies to facilitate good posture, movement, and pressure ulcer prevention.

This project brings together internationally leading expertise in bioengineering, tissue viability, implementation, and social sciences with an industry partner. This multi-disciplinary team have worked together over several years, using the latest pressure sensing technology to evaluate movement patterns over prolonged periods. In addition, we have patients and public members at the heart of the project through organised meetings chaired by our colleague Dr Stephen Duckworth OBE. We will all work together involving patients and the public, service providers and industry partners on a fit for purpose technology for community healthcare.

The new SEAMLESS project will build on a previous project ‘PROMISE’ which was funded by the Health Foundation. Here we were able to demonstrate that through monitoring pressures between the individual and their cushion or mattress they have been able to effectively communicate when the individual been less mobile. The technology has also been used to improve the type of cushion or mattress the individual uses to support their health. This has helped improve understanding of the risks of being less mobile and supported individualised care.