News / Bristol Robotics Laboratory
Smart socks invention could help millions living with dementia
Dr Zeke Steer was motivated to find a tech solution that has the potential to help millions of people after witnessing his great-grandmother’s dementia journey.
The entrepreneur quit his job, started a PhD at Bristol Robotics Laboratory and volunteered in a care home so he could research ideas to support those who become anxious or aggressive because of their dementia.
His invention, Milbotix smart socks, track heart rate, sweat levels and motion to give insights on the wearer’s wellbeing and how anxious the person is feeling.
The only existing alternatives currently are worn on wrist straps, which can stigmatise and cause the wearer more distress.
Milbotix look and feel like normal socks, do not need charging, are machine washable and provide a steady stream of data to carers, who can see their patient’s metrics on an app.
Speaking about the smart socks, Zeke said: “The foot is actually a great place to collect data about stress, and socks are a familiar piece of clothing that people wear every day.
“Our research shows that the socks can accurately recognise signs of stress, which could really help not just those with dementia and autism, but their carers too.”
Zeke was working as a software engineer in the defence industry when his great-grandmother, Kath, began showing the ill effects of dementia. Once gentle and with a passion for jazz music, Kath became agitated and aggressive and eventually accused Zeke’s grandmother of stealing from her.
Zeke set out to investigate how wearable technologies and artificial intelligence could help with his great-grandmother’s symptoms, as well as those of millions of others.
While volunteering at a dementia care home operated by the St Monica Trust, he hit upon the idea for Milbotix, which he launched as a business in February 2020.
He explained: “I came to see that my great grandmother wasn’t an isolated episode and that distressed behaviours are very common.”
The Alzheimer’s Society says there will be 1.6m people with dementia in the UK by 2040, with one person developing dementia every three minutes. Dementia is thought to cost the UK £34.7 billion a year.
Meanwhile, according to government documents, autism affects at least one per cent of the UK population, or some 700,000 people, 15 to 30 per cent of whom are non-verbal part or all of the time.
Milbotix smart socks could help millions living with dementia – photo: Bristol University/ Milbotix
Zeke is now growing his business and testing the socks with people living with mid to late-stage dementia and developing the tech before bringing the product to market next year. Milbotix will begin a funding round later this year.
The business will be supported by Alzheimer’s Society through its accelerator programme, which is helping fund the smart socks development, providing innovation support and helping test the product.
Natasha Howard-Murray, a senior innovator at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Some people with dementia may present behaviours such as aggression, irritability and resistance to care.
“This innovative wearable tech is a fantastic, accessible way for staff to better monitor residents’ distress and agitation.”
Main photo: Bristol University/ Milbotix
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