Glove has a hand in runners' personal safety - 2008

31 January 2008

A Queensland University of Technology industrial design graduate has exercising, socialising and safety all in hand with the development of a personal GPS system worn as a glove.

Alice Yeung, who has just completed a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Design at QUT's School of Design, came up with the Zoom device to tackle two modern day problems: social alienation and obesity.

"My initial research found that one of the reasons people were becoming overweight was because they did not know anyone to go for a walk or run with," Ms Yeung said.

"They said they put off taking to the walkways and bikeways for security reasons or because they didn't like exercising by themselves.

"So the problem was to come up with an inexpensive and flexible way for people to exercise with companions whenever time allows."

Ms Yeung's solution was Zoom, a stylish, minimalist silicon glove fitted with a GPS system that can easily be worn while walking or running and is connected to computer software.

"The Zoom system lets users decide the sort of exercise activity they want to do, key in their desired distance, pace and terrain, and then download it to the device.

"The user then logs their chosen route in either a private or public mode depending on the level of security required. With a password, Zoom allows friends and family to track the user's running route in real time," Ms Yeung said.

"This way they can meet up with them en route or know approximately what time they will be returning.

"The user can alert other members of their group of their route so that they can meet up with them."

Ms Yeung said Zoom was another way to bring people in cities together to form informal social networks of likeminded people that was flexible and able to keep pace with most people's busy lives.

Media contact: - Carmen Myler, QUT media officer, 07 3138 4494.