The University of Leeds has partnered with Age UK to develop a sound-making wearable technology designed to encourage older people to move more.

The echome is a box linked to a wearable sensor that creates sounds responding to users’ movements in real time.

The echome sensor attaches to any part of the body and custom-made software converts movements into sounds through a box with a built-in Raspberry-Pi computer.

The university said initial testing had encouraged older people to use the device in innovative ways including writing poetry and pain management.

Some of the settings create the sounds of acoustic instruments, where others are based on everyday sounds and field recordings such as birdsong.

The sound produced depends on the movement made by the user with rhythm patterns able to change depending on how the user decides to move their body.

Age UK said that the echome would offer older people a therapeutic and holistic approach to keeping themselves mobile both a group setting and in the comfort of their own home.

The project was funded by a grant from Research England and also received funding from the Cultural Institute’s Ignite Fund. Collaborating with Yorkshire Dance, the university said the project will provide training for dance artists to work with echome in care homes.

"The project with Age UK has had some really surprising results,” said Dr Maria Kapsali, associate professor in physical performance in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries, who developed the project. “We've seen the echome device helping older people express themselves and connect with their community, improving social interaction and confidence, as well as encouraging more movement."

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