Wearable Devices in Assisted Living: Lessons Learned from Challenges and Opportunities

Speaker: Enrique Alvarez & Collins Obeng

Bio: Dr. Enrique Alvarez: Dr. Enrique Alvarez Vazquez is an assistant professor in biomedical engineering at University of North Dakota. Previously, he worked as a computer systems engineer at the Center for Visual and Cognitive Neuroscience. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Telecommunications Engineering.
His research spans digital/analog communications, embedded systems, and systems design, with work including vibrotactile stimulation devices, controlled-illumination enclosures, and motion platforms for vestibular research. His current focus is health informatics, digital health, and software engineering.
Bio Collins Obeng: Collins P Obeng is a Biomedical Engineering PhD student with hands-on experience in the medical device industry, having worked with global companies such as Horiba Medical (France), ThermoScientific (Germany), Fujifilm Health (Dubai), Mindray (China), and Tridema Engineering (Italy). Specializing in the installation, calibration, preventive maintenance, and user training of clinical diagnostic equipment. Collins also brings a strong interest in machine learning and IoT technologies, especially in proactive and preventive healthcare applications. Currently, Collins is actively involved in academic and engineering projects, including bathroom activity tracking using the CarePredict Tempo device for elderly care, RAG-Based health & hygiene recommender system, and medical IoT education. With a passion for predictive and preventive healthcare via AI/ML tools, Collins is actively building the necessary skills required for developing intuitive tools to help make preventive healthcare easily accessible.