What if smart, wearable textiles could help better inform providers of the overall health of their patients?
That – and promoting a healthier lifestyle – is the impetus behind Modus Tech-Wear LLC, a Providence-based startup created earlier last year.
The owners, Kunal Mankodiya, Patricia Burbank and her son Benjamin Burbank, have designed “smart” footwear that tracks activity, including steps taken. The design is like Fitbit, a popular, wearable technology company in California.
But Mankodiya said the Modus data collected is potentially more accurate because the sensors are located on the feet.
“We want to measure … our lower limbs, we’re talking about walking, jogging and running, so we are targeting that particular area,” Mankodiya said.
A more-active lifestyle can improve the overall health of an individual, said Patricia Burbank, a nurse by trade.
The startup received a $50,000 Innovation Voucher from the state.
“Gait is a sixth vital sign,” Burbank said. “If we can measure gait and changes in gait patterns, it can show risk of falls, cognitive declines and changes in overall health.”