Meet Kenneth Shinozuka.
All GIFs via NBC News and Google Science Fair.
He lives with his grandpa. They’re really close.
Unfortunately, Kenneth’s beloved grandpa suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
Within a few years of being diagnosed, his grandfather started getting up in the middle of the night and wandering off — once even onto the freeway. He and his family were woken up when a police officer brought him back (safe, thankfully!).
“It was very real and very scary,” Kenneth said in an NBC interview.
Kenneth wanted to find a way to keep his grandpa safe. So he invented something awesome.
…a simple sensor that attaches to a sock and alerts a caregiver’s smartphone if the wearer wanders out of bed.
Kenneth’s invention is so good, it won him a Science in Action award from Scientific American.
The sensors are now being tested by patients in a nursing home, with some impressive results.
This isn’t just a win for Kenneth and his grandpa. Over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s.
Roughly 60% of these folks will, at one time or another, wander off.
Kenneth’s simple sock device can keep so many of our loved ones safe.
Not too shabby for a 15-year-old.
For full dose of heartwarming goodness, check out the video:
And here’s a little more info on Kenneth’s invention:
