Elderly Safety and Communication: An IoT-Based Smart Glove for Fall Detection and Hand Gesture Communication

Nowadays, elderly people face some physical challenges: the first is the risk of falling, and the second involves difficulties in mobility and vocalization due to advanced age. Consequently, many elderly individuals encounter obstacles in raising their voice to seek assistance with pressing needs like accessing water or attending to bathroom requirements. The objective of this work is to integrate a dual-functionality IoT-enabled smart glove, emphasizing two pivotal aspects: fall detection and hand gesture communication. Initially, the system employs an MPU6050 sensor module containing a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer, linked to an Arduino UNO microcontroller for fall and hand gesture detection. Subsequently, the microcontroller is integrated with a WiFi module (esp8266), and thirdly, the IFTTT applet is employed to showcase the messages. The glove can detect falls, and elderly individuals can call for assistance by gesturing. The microcontroller, WiFi module, and buzzer work collaboratively to promptly notify designated individuals via SMS and email, with results conveniently displayed on an LCD screen.