Researcher's Work Aimed at Helping People Live Better Lives

"I like research on the Internet of Things because it solves problems in people's lives," said Shijia Pan , a professor of computer science and engineering at UC Merced and a principal investigator at the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS). "You can ask - 'What do I wish to have to make our lives easier?' - and you can build one yourself."

Pan combines vibration sensors with the Internet of Things to develop nonintrusive, efficient and effective smart devices for health applications and more.

She has worked on several groundbreaking projects, including:

• A networked system of smart wristbands and vibration sensors installed on floor tiles to estimate older adults' fall risks based on metrics such as the rhythm of their gait and the lengths of their strides, using the vibrations emitted from their footsteps.
• Weakley's Interactive Care, or I-Care system, a web-based platform that helps connect long-distance caregivers to loved ones with mild cognitive impairment, such as early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
• An inexpensive, battery-free "kinetic augment" attachment for prescription pill bottles to help detect whether a patient has taken their medications for the day.
• A smart retainer to identify and monitor tooth alignment issues that can cause jaw pain and tooth sensitivity.
• Sensors to learn more about muscles and, perhaps, uncover a new strategy for relieving back pain for those who sit for extended periods.

Pan joined the UC Merced Department of Computer Science and Engineering in 2019, and she currently serves as a faculty member in the electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) graduate program.

Read more about Pan's wide variety of work on the CITRIS website .