"Groundbreaking research is performed at Temple every day," Temple president Richard M. Englert said in his remarks at the Temple University Innovation Showcase April 28. "Innovation is always a team sport, and here we have the A Team."
A critical piece of that team is the Office of Technology Commercialization and Business Development, Temple’s innovation hub where students and faculty researchers and entrepreneurs can get training, information, and the contacts they need to turn their ideas into marketable products. Part of the university’s commitment to tech innovation (fueled by $257 million in annual research expenditures), the office facilitates cross-disciplinary partnerships that generate more than 115 research-based inventions per year.
One of those inventions this year came from the mind of Peter Agada, a research engineer and lab technician in the Department of Kinesiology. As he was developing his ideas for what would become the SVS Glasses, eyeglasses with technology to help people with balance problems to monitor and improve their movement.
Agada turned to Temple’s innovation resources to scrutinize his business model and connect with business, law, and art students in the process. Now he has two patents and is the founder of his own fledgling company. We talked with him about R&D and the resources that are helping him get his research out of the lab and into the world.
How did you come up with your idea?
The idea to make glasses emerged from research that I had participated in with the former chair of the Kinesiology Department, Dr. John Jeka. We were investigating mechanisms that the central nervous system employs to stay upright while standing and walking. We had developed two different assistive devices that focused on the visual and proprioceptive systems, so transitioning to the vestibular system (which essentially controls balance) felt like a natural next step.
What made you decide to turn it into a business venture?
The idea for myBalanceSens started with an independent study course I took in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute. We were required to plan and launch a successful business venture in 100 days. That led to the 19th annual idea competition that brought together many faculty, staff, and students to share their ideas for innovative services and technologies.
Who else is on the myBalanceSens team?
At this stage, the team is really just myself. Dr. Jeka was instrumental is providing me with guidance and consulting as I was thinking of the main capabilities of the device. But the day to day ups and downs are weathered by me.
How did your work in the VEPO Lab connect with your developing myBalanceSens?
The resources in the VEPO lab (Virtual Environment and Postural Orientation Laboratory) not only enabled me to do pilot studies but also brought me in contact with everyday people who had to continually confront challenges of maintaining upright balance in their daily lives. Quick lay person's summary: How does myBalanceSens work? The SVS (stochastic vestibular stimulation) glasses are smart glasses that automatically pair with your smartphone. They deliver very low levels of electrical current – non-invasively – through the tips of the glasses’ temples to the wearer’s vestibular system in the inner ear. We envision it to serve as a means for the wearer to exercise or improve their sense of balance. Our glasses are also capable of monitoring the wearer’s balance and mobility as they move around their homes and communities.
How did you realize that there could be a market for this?
I was aware of the public health issues of poor balance and falls among older adults, especially among the estimated 30 to 35 percent of older adults who suffer from vestibular dysfunction. But it wasn’t until I actually participated in a local healthcare hackathon that was sponsored by IBC that I really started to appreciate that I had something. I got to see a lot of interesting ideas for solutions to urban health issues, and I especially tuned in to the themes of telerehabilitation and leveraging big data to improve patient outcomes.
Why glasses?
The particular method we used in the lab to stimulate the vestibular system with electrical signals requires a loop, or a closed structure, that connects the sites behind each ear. I originally thought of headphones as a packaging solution, but then I asked myself, “How many people 65 and older would actually walk around with those?” I eventually realized that the tips of eyeglasses – the part that hooks behind the ear – has the basic design we needed. Moreover, market research from GMI Lightspeed and Mintel found that 90 percent of consumers ages 65 and older wear glasses. It was the logical choice.
What Temple resources have you used to secure patents and start getting the product to market?
While the SVS glasses aren’t on the market yet, I worked very closely with the Blackstone Launchpad to help us secure the patent for the device. They helped me establish a line of communication with the Technology Transfer Office, which was really helpful as I was getting concerned about protecting the intellectual property and didn’t have the personal resources to undertake the task myself.
How long and what are the next steps before the product launches?
It is very much an early-stage startup, but in addition to continuing to develop the SVS glasses, I’m also continuing to refine the business model. I hope to qualify for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps award this summer, which would give us $50,000 to scale up activities in the coming year.