I received an e-mail from Neil saying, “I have a sister in Toronto that’s in a wheelchair and can’t move anything other than her head, so she can’t answer the phone or make a call if she needs to. I have been looking for a totally hands free voice activated phone.”
This is an area of specialization that is beyond the scope of the electronic systems that I install in homes, and Neil had already checked out the product lines I’m aware of, but it got me thinking about the ways an integrated approach to electronics in the home can help when people have limited mobility or a family member suffers from memory loss.
An integrated system in the home is designed to save steps in the normal day-to-day functioning. The convenience offered to any homeowner by these systems is even more valuable if there are health or other impairment issues.
The system in the home that is most readily adapted for these needs is the security system. People tend to pigeonhole a security system as something that is designed to detect burglars, but it is much more than that. By the creative use of detectors it can protect against fire, flood, toxic gases, power outages and much more. The basic function of a security system is to detect problems, as defined by the user, and let that homeowner know about them while sending a message at the same time to the monitoring station. A good quality security system, properly installed and monitored on a 24-hour basis receives inputs from sensors, relays alarms, keeps a record and sends communication to instigate action within the home.
Here are some examples of using your security system for special needs:
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An output from the security system can make lights flash, to let you know that a door has been opened, or the doorbell has rung, or any other specific event has occurred. This can help the hearing impaired.
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Someone with the potential of a health emergency can carry a pendant or bracelet that will send an instant message to the monitoring station when pressed. Paramedics can be dispatched immediately, even if you are unable to dial a phone.
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Security systems usually have chimes on doors that can be turned on or off. If a family member has memory problems to the extent that you worry about them wandering off, a chime on every door can provide extra reassurance.
For people who have trouble getting around, answering the front door can be a major chore. A solution which is very popular with both security companies and systems integrators was invented right here in Ontario in the mid-nineties. It’s called a Teledoorbell. Outside the front door a normal looking intercom sits on the wall. When a visitor presses the button it sounds a distinctive ring on the phones in the house, allowing you to pick up the nearest extension and talk to the person at the door.
That in itself is a great convenience but the Teledoorbell does much more. It can serve up to four separate entrances, and each will have its own distinctive ring. It can include a camera that can send an image to any television in the house. It can be tied in to an electric door latch so that, when you are sure of who is at the door, you can press a button on the phone to unlock it. This relay control gives you the added convenience of calling in from anywhere to control elements in the house, such as triggering lights to turn on, and the system can also call out to your cell phone so that you can answer the door no matter where you are.
Depending on the options, the cost of the unit can range from $450 to $1000, plus installation, and because it’s hard-wired installation can be tricky in an existing home. So it may not meet every budget but it adds great convenience for any home owner.
Room to room intercoms inside the home can save steps as well. For many years they have had the potential to include a radio but now they can include video as well, so that visual as well as audio communication is possible between rooms. Many of them can be easily retrofitted.
Of course, a complete integrated electronic system in your home, one that includes all aspects of the home’s operation, is designed to save steps and add convenience, so it will be valuable to you whether or not mobility is an issue. Being able to adjust the lights, the heating, the window coverings, and various entertainment devices using a hand-held remote or even an I-phone is something that all of us can benefit from. On top of that, in a total system home, many actions can be fully automated, to be triggered by date and time, or sensor input regarding heat, light, or motion.
It’s clear that what may be conveniences when we’re young can become necessities as we age.
If you have questions about audio, video, security, lighting control, computer networks, or anything else that’s low voltage, send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bill Monahan is a “smart home” specialist who has been in the construction industry for thirty years, with the last twelve devoted exclusively to residential electronics. While he provides and installs products he sees his main mission as making homeowners comfortable with the new technologies.
