A University of Bristol engineer has developed a revolutionary smart shoe insole designed to help prevent falls among older adults, inspired by his 89-year-old mentor’s declining balance. Dr. Jiayang Li, a lecturer in electrical engineering, created the prototype after noticing his mentor, Peter, struggling to walk steadily. Concerned about the risks of falling—especially for elderly individuals living alone—Li turned to his expertise in semiconductor technology to develop a solution. The insole contains 253 tiny sensors that capture real-time data on foot pressure, gait patterns, and movement dynamics. This data is processed by a custom microchip consuming just 100 microwatts of power, enabling the device to run for up to three months on a single charge. The information is transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device or tablet, where it generates visual representations of foot pressure and calculates a real-time fall-risk score based on asymmetry, instability, and abnormal weight transfer. The system also uses AI to estimate lower-limb joint motion, offering personalized feedback such as recommended balance exercises or referrals to healthcare professionals. What sets the invention apart is its ability to deliver hospital-grade gait analysis in a portable, everyday format. While detailed gait assessments are typically limited to clinical settings, this technology brings high-precision monitoring into daily life. The system’s low power consumption and compatibility with common devices like smartphones and smartwatches make it highly accessible. The prototype will be showcased at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC 2026) in San Francisco—a premier event known as the "Chip Olympics"—where it will be presented to industry leaders from Nvidia, Samsung, Intel, and top researchers worldwide. Dr. Li’s collaborator, Dr. Yu Wu from University College London, will present the underlying technology at the conference on February 18. The research, published on the arXiv preprint server, is one of only three from U.K. institutions and the only one led by a U.K. scientist. Dr. Li emphasized the device’s potential for mass production and affordability, envisioning a future where such smart insoles become standard tools for elderly care. Next steps include a large-scale clinical trial to validate the device’s accuracy in predicting fall risk across diverse populations. The team is also working with medical and industry partners to refine the system and bring it to market. Dr. Noora Almarri, a Silicon Microchip Designer featured on Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 2025, praised the innovation as a milestone in active sensing, calling it a major leap toward integrating high-quality, scalable sensors into everyday wearables. For Dr. Li, the project is deeply personal. “When I showed Peter the idea, he was touched,” he said. “He’s excited that it might one day help many others stay safe and independent.”