Floor covering having adjustable hardness

Abstract

Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for adjusting a hardness of a floor covering. Aspects include monitoring a user on the floor covering and detecting a triggering event associated with the user. Aspects also include adjusting a parameter of the floor covering, wherein the adjustment decreases the hardness of the floor covering.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for adjusting a hardness of a floor covering, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:   monitoring a user on the floor covering;   detecting a triggering event associated with the user;   adjusting a parameter of the floor covering, wherein the adjustment decreases the hardness of the floor covering.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the parameter of the floor covering is a viscosity of one or more of a magnetorheological fluid and electrorheological fluid disposed within the floor covering. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein monitoring the user on the floor covering is performed with one or more sensors disposed within the floor covering. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein monitoring the user on the floor covering is performed with one or more sensors that are disposed on the user. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the detection of a triggering event includes calculating a confidence level that the user is about to fall and determining if the confidence level exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the confidence level and the threshold value are based on an individual profile of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the confidence level and the threshold value are based on a characteristic of the user. 
     
     
         15 . A system for adjusting a hardness of a floor covering, comprising:
 a processor in communication with the floor covering, the processor configured to:   monitor a user on the floor covering;   detect a triggering event associated with the user;   adjust a parameter of the floor covering, wherein the adjustment decreases the hardness of the floor covering.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the parameter of the floor covering is a viscosity of one or more of a magnetorheological fluid and electrorheological fluid disposed within the floor covering. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein monitoring the user on the floor covering is performed with one or more sensors disposed within the floor covering. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the detection of a triggering event includes calculating a confidence level that the user is about to fall and determining if the confidence level exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the confidence level and the threshold value are based on an individual profile of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the confidence level and the threshold value are based on a characteristic of the user.