About Shimmer Research

Shimmer is a wireless sensor platform that can record and transmit data to capture physiological signals and environmental surroundings in real time. The sensor platform overcomes issues of size, weight, and low-power based communication capabilities which have constrained wireless sensing to date.

Shimmer has a number of sensors which can capture a wide range of events. A full list of sensors available is as follows:

• Accelerometer: 3 axis accelerometer measures the acceleration it experiences relative to freefall. Able to detect magnitude and direction of acceleration as a vector quantity, and can be used to sense orientation, vibration and shock.

• Gyroscope: Dual axis gyroscope measures orientation, based on the principle of conservation of angular momentum

• ECG (electrocardiogram): interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over time captured and externally recorded by skin electrodes

• EMG (electromyograph): for evaluating and recording the activation signal of muscles

• PIR Sensor (Passive Infra Red): motion sensor / detection

• Tilt and Vibration sensor

This has allowed for research and analysis into a wide range of areas including motion analysis, kinematic sensing, fall detection, gait analysis, and activities of daily living (ADL). There is also an external connector that allows for the connection of self designed sensors, meaning the possibilities for remote wireless sensing and monitoring are endless.

Why is it Important …?

With the growing pressure on health care services, and the increasing demand to provide greater efficiencies, quality, and support across all industries, researchers are under pressure to find innovative and cost effective approaches to service delivery. Increasing focus is turning towards wireless sensor networks (WSN) as a means of underpinning intelligent solutions.

This has been evident in the healthcare industry as funding seeks to drive the development of technologies that can provide assisted living, disease management, remote monitoring, and telehealth solutions. This in turn will improve the quality of care, service delivery, and reduced the burden on the healthcare system and cost base. This focus has been seen across all industries where WSN’s are being deployed to monitor and improve manufacturing, production, consumer electronics, and sports performance.

How can Shimmer provide a solution to your needs?

Shimmer provides an extremely extensible platform which enables researchers to move past any hardware challenges and allows them to focus on higher value added research into the analysis and interpretation of the actual data that can be attained. With the rapid move towards wireless sensor networks to help monitor, engage and interact with our environment, and the desire to integrate ubiquitous sensing devices to existing products, Shimmer gives you the platform to be at the leading edge of this technology.

Shimmer provides a true solution for developing wireless sensing capabilities across a range of sectors including healthcare, defence, manufacturing, and environmental monitoring.