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Focus on Paula Muller, PhD Biomedical Engineer and Founder of Sociavi.
Projects aim to keep Seniors and special needs individuals communicating with the world.
Updates October 2021 on the humanitarian technology and sustainable development activities of Paula Muller, PhD:
Made possible by IEEE-USA funding from member dues.
** Updates 14 December 2020 are included on this page, combined with previous content. We are experiencing a global pandemic of Coronavirus and related COVID-19 which has transformed our lives, our experience, and our humanitarian engagements in every possible way. We will update our content periodically to maintain documentation, and to inform and update about our efforts. **
This is a 'Hear, here!' project. Also a Humanitarian Activities Committee, Special Interest Group for Humanitarian Technologies (SIGHT) Group effort by our IEEE NJ Coast Section PACE SIGHT Group, 'Do Good Things: Justice for All.'
History of this page: IEEE PACE New Jersey Coast Section Humanitarian Activities founded a new IEEE Special Interest Group for Humanitarian Activities (SIGHT) Group in 2019 and became engaged in improving communication especially for people with hearing loss using mainstream open source cloud connected technologies. People experience hearing loss or difficulty in speech understanding at any age; approximately one third of people over 65 experience disabling hearing loss, so we recognize the importance of providing helpful solutions. We are extending our hearing assistance projects with attention to the growing population of those who are aging and as a result, might suffer hearing loss, difficulty communicating, social isolation, and associated depression. Over time, we recognized that people of all ages, and all experiences benefit from Closed Captioning to improve speech understanding. Especially during the global pandemic of COVID-19, people were unable to hear as well through masks, or plastic, and distance. In addition, Health and Medical Device literacy, language skills, and subject matter expertise was a greater need.
Sociavi is a proven communication and activity platform for Seniors to easily engage with family, friends, healthcare providers, partake in activities, and more. Our SIGHT Group aims to expand features on the platform to help those with hearing loss to remain engaged with the people, and activities they enjoy. Paula Muller, PhD dedicates herself to improving communication support for Seniors and their loved ones. Together these topics provide for Lifelong Learning opportunities, will reduce Gender Inequalities, and providing hearing assistance will reduce Disparities and Inequalities. UN SDGs 4, 5, and 10.
At the time of this writing, 14 December 2020, the Coronavirus related COVID-19 pandemic is raging through many countries, and has impacted those living in senior and rehabilitation facilities much more than any group. The SociAvi System provides trust and security to the protected person. The trusted person can operate the SociAvi System remotely to assist the protected person. Many people in the target community, who are aging or are those with disabling conditions, those isolated from families and in rehabilitation or senior facilities, face the most extraordinary, life threatening, and difficult experiences for a variety of reasons.
Among the problems during a pandemic, many traditional Accessibility accommodations (an important topic of our IEEE project to improve hearing assistance) pose unforeseen challenges. At the time of this writing, we have social distancing and face masks. Travel, indoor venues, and social activities are limited. Schools once opened have closed again, shifted to hybrid, and change again on a moment’s notice. Worldwide, many people are quarantined to reduce risk of infection.They are isolated away from family and friends, many in long term care facilities and or senior communities. Many other people are forced to risk themselves and the health of their families going out to work, school, raising children, and living in multi-generation homes; living in multi-generational homes risks elders in the community even though they might be able to be with their family. People are denied interpreters or companions during health visits, as well as at school, work, court, the bank. Non-essential, hearing-related and other surgeries for example battery issues with pacemakers / implanted defibrillators are suspended in order to reduce endangerment, preserve hospital and medical system resources, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Face masks impair lip reading and reduce audibility of the voice.
Altogether life has become even more challenging, while increasing loneliness and despair. Therefore, the SociAvi System is vital and important to help people keep in touch with their family members and friends who they are unable to visit with in person.
Welkoborsky HJ, Dietz A, Deitmer T. Laryngo- Rhino- Otologie. 2020 May 8; 99(6): 370-373
British Society of Otology; 2020. Guidance for undertaking otological procedures during COVID-19 pandemic. http://www.yoifos.com/sites/default/files/ent_uk_guidance_for_covid-19_for_otology_procedures._25-mar-2020.pdf [Ref list]
Volunteers in coordination with the IEEE NJ Coast Section PACE SIGHT Group worked with Paula Muller to facilitate moving her innovations into United States Patents. It is very satisfying to be involved with promoting Inventing for Underrepresented, Minorities, and Women as part of our efforts supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Many people were involved including but not limited to Graham Alig who has his own business representing Inventors and who provided a significant amount of pro bono time and effort. In addition, IEEE Volunteers: Eamon Wall, Esq. who is a Patent Attorney and IEEE Volunteers, Giovanni Vannucci, PhD, himself an Inventor, Thomas Willis, III, PhD, also an Inventor, Katherine Grace August, PhD also a woman Inventor, Victor B. Lawrence, PhD, himself an Inventor, elected to the Inventors' Hall of Fame. Consulting, information, and suggestions have been gathered from many people around IEEE and various businesses who have experience promoting success in promoting Inventing especially by our target community.
Our early research leading to this project was the IEEE Womens' History Month at Stevens Institute of Technology, Celebrating Our History, Inventing Your Future where a round table was held with a presentation and discussion of the statistics and studies on Women and Patenting.
As a result of the efforts, two United States Patents were successfully allowed. The first is:
United States Patent
10,623,696
Muller
April 14, 2020
Communication system for use with protected persons
Abstract
A method including a dedicated device for simple, automatic, and immediate communication system for protected persons, who may for short or long term benefit from assistance, with oversight by an administrator, who manages which persons are trusted to communicate with the protected person through the system. In particular, the present invention focuses on pervasive presence, the system does not go to sleep, continually monitoring and measuring objective and subjective aspects of the protected person's experiences, states, and system states, including health and communication measures, maintains a schedule with reminders, and a series of adaptive prompts, for example, medications and appointments, social activities and engagements, and automatically and in a simple manner, connects the protected person with trusted persons and authorized services and features through an adaptive customizable interface, by a variety of means such as touch, audio and visual. It connects through gateways to many services and content, with accommodation for vision, hearing, mobility, language, and other needs, thus reducing cognitive burden and stress for the protected person while maintaining ease of use and important social connections to promote emotional well-being.
The second United States Patent allowed is:
United States Patent
10,848,711
Muller
November 24, 2020
Communication system for use with protected persons
Abstract
A method including a dedicated device for simple, automatic, and immediate communication system for protected persons, who may for short or long term benefit from assistance, with oversight by an administrator, who manages which persons are trusted to communicate with the protected person through the system. In particular, the present invention focuses on pervasive presence, the system does not go to sleep, continually monitoring and measuring objective and subjective aspects of the protected person's experiences, states, and system states, including health and communication measures, maintains a schedule with reminders, and a series of adaptive prompts, for example, medications and appointments, social activities and engagements, and automatically and in a simple manner, connects the protected person with trusted persons and authorized services and features through an adaptive customizable interface, by a variety of means such as touch, audio and visual. It connects through gateways to many services and content, with accommodation for vision, hearing, mobility, language, and other needs, thus reducing cognitive burden and stress for the protected person while maintaining ease of use and important social connections to promote emotional well-being.
Our project addresses United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 Quality Education, 5 Gender Equality, and 10 Reduced Inequalities.
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