13-Year-Old Invents Innovative Fall Detection Technology to Protect Seniors
At just 13 years old, Kevin Tang, an eighth grader from Southern California, has made remarkable strides in the fields of science and senior care with a groundbreaking invention aimed at keeping elderly loved ones safe. Motivated by a personal family experience, Kevin developed a fall detection system that offers a fresh alternative to existing wearable devices and earned him the national title of "America’s Top Young Scientist," along with a $25,000 prize.
A Personal Inspiration Leads to Innovation
Kevin’s invention, FallGuard, was inspired by a traumatic incident involving his grandmother who lives with his family. Approximately five years ago, she suffered a fall at home. Unfortunately, no one noticed right away, and when help finally arrived, she had sustained permanent brain damage. "It was really scary," Kevin recalls. The experience stayed with him, and when a friend’s grandfather also fell a few years later, Kevin recognized how widespread and perilous these accidents can be for seniors.
Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults aged 65 and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 14 million older adults — roughly one in four — report falling each year. These incidents lead to about one million hospitalizations annually and are the most frequent cause of traumatic brain injuries in this population.
How FallGuard Works
Unlike traditional fall detection systems such as Life Alert, which rely on wearable devices worn around the neck, wrist, or in pockets, Kevin’s invention is a non-wearable, camera-based monitoring system. Users install cameras throughout their home that are connected to a small, dedicated computer. Using a custom algorithm Kevin developed, the system can accurately detect falls by analyzing body positions like the shoulder and elbow joints in real time. When a fall is detected, it immediately alerts caregivers to provide assistance.
Kevin emphasizes the convenience of the system: “You don’t have to remember to wear it,” an important advantage over existing devices that depend on active usage. For example, Kevin’s friend’s grandfather had a fall detection watch but failed to charge it the previous day, leaving the device inoperable during a critical time. FallGuard continuously monitors without requiring any user interaction or subscriptions.
Development and Recognition
Kevin’s journey to perfect his algorithm took time and dedication. As a finalist in the prestigious 3M Young Scientist Challenge, he was paired with mentor Mark Gilbertson, who helped him enhance the system to function effectively during nighttime conditions as well. Gilbertson explains, “He’s detecting your shoulder position, your elbow joint using some AI algorithms, and then built his own algorithm on top of that to determine when you fall over.”
The device currently costs about $90 in materials to produce, but Kevin is working on reducing this to $30 by sourcing a different computer component. The affordability factor is important to Kevin, who hopes to keep FallGuard accessible to as many families as possible.
Moving Forward and Making an Impact
Since winning the national science fair competition, Kevin has drawn interest from at least one security camera company and numerous individuals eager to adopt the technology for their loved ones’ safety. The Tang family already has FallGuard installed in their home, and another family is utilizing the device, with more than 10 families currently on a waiting list.
Kevin’s father, Yang Tang, is proud of his son’s achievement and envisions bringing the device to many other families who worry about the safety of their aging parents. “Whether Kevin won the award or not, we definitely will make this product to help them all,” he said.
With his creativity, compassion, and technical skill, Kevin Tang is making a real difference in senior care, proving that age is no barrier to meaningful innovation.
For more information or to reach out to the inventor, contact Madeline Mitchell at memitchell@usatoday.com.
This article was reported with support from Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Editorial content was independently produced.
