Fast track to the future of assistive technology

by Tino Carusi Director of SDA Assistive Technologies

Tino has a background in Property Development, with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering, and a Masters in Business Administration, from Macquarie University. In addition to his property background, Tino has a 20 year history of creating high performing business units in manufacturing, technology and healthcare sectors within North America and Asia Pacific regions. Tino has held senior management and executive positions while serving several ASX100 Companies.

The Jetsons was the whimsical cartoon of our youth, but we all remember how much easier our life would be if it was possible. Bar the 'auto dress you in the morning wardrobe', the future has arrived with SDA Assistive Technologies Pty Ltd.

SDA Assistive Technologies has partnered with Essence a global (IoT) Internet of Things company to bring the next generation Smart Assistive Technology platform in a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) apartment or house.

The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and advances in technology have removed the costs and complexity of smart assistive technology, bringing it into the reach of people with disability, with a 'plug and play' solution that is truly smart. Using simple schedules, day to day events and voice activation to truly simplify the lives of people with disabilities.

Think back what happened to the computer store, the video store, the music store, the Kodak shop, all memories, and replaced by next generation cloud technologies that have enabled the new connected care and assistive technology of the future. The SDA Assistive Technologies offering is not about tech heads and geek heaven but enabling the intrinsic human desire as based on Maslow's Law.

The platform is designed around enabling Safety and Independence for people with disability. We understand the desire of all people, is to live a life of independence and autonomy, but sometimes we need assistance to ensure that that life is safe, as well.

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?

SDA assistive Technologies offer a base Safety System and Independent Living system. Everyone’s routines and lifestyles are different, so are their AT requirements. In consultation with Occupational Therapists, Doctors and Family Members, we can simply add on modules that improve the home environment.

This ADL (Activities of Daily Living) information is then collected to provide a private but transparent window to the home environment. This information is securely shared with the SIL provider (Supported Independent Living) and Family Members who can then proactively support the participants to live as independently as possible.

The backbone of the technology was developed by Essence, a global IoT company with over 30 million devices installed. The solution has been customised by SDA Assistive Technologies to support the initial requirements of Enliven Housing for their pilot SDA site in Sans Souci Sydney which opens in July 2020.

A SNAPSHOT OF SDA ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENLIVEN HOUSING

The heart of the system is the WeR@Home Hub.

The Hub is an intelligent home control panel for managing and communicating with the on-site peripherals enabling remote control of home environment. Providing automation of simple tasks related to activities of daily living and enable 'check ins' of areas in apartment passively or actively. The SIL provider (Supported Independent Living) can set guides for automations with participants and change automations easily. The system then allows participants and the SIL’s to connect the necessary levels of Assistive Technology. Combining these devices below can create a customised solution for the participant without the need for more specialised equipment.

DEVICE Tablet PURPOSE OF DEVICE

To be a central point for App

CAPABILITIES

Master control of automations for tenants and SIL

Smart Plug

BENEFITS

Use App on tablet for installation settings, adjustments, pre-sets, and automations

Care@home Multiple emergency pendant Extra emergency device Voice Activation to call for assistance. in case of emergency or Device Push button, pull cord and assistance is required voice activation. Splash proof and can be installed in shower and wet areas Enables immediate adjustments for automations in the home using natural language (like temperature control, lights on/off). Improves safety with ability to turn off devices like electric blankets, irons etc. Extra protection for tenant in wet dangerous high slip areas

Care@home Hub

Smart Sensor

Smart Thermostat

To convert existing on/off appliances to automated appliances Technology smart for convenience and monitor of energy use

Be able to provide an Be able to create a individual response plan customised plan per Able to provide SIL/HUB tenant with medical details Monitoring System SIL staff will have a Able to provide a family mobile customer application dashboard of every tenant’s health data Emergency point to call for assistance for beside bed Family members feel connected To trigger automations for Enables adjustment of lights/appliances in any environment based on room movement and time of day Measures temperature to also trigger guide events

To enable smart temperature control 24/7 HVAC Control options with On/Off, Mode, Temperature up and down ad fan control Assists SIL staff understand tenants needs better Assists SIL staff to have immediate data

Improves comfort of the home environment Assists activities of daily living especially for clients with dexterity and cognitive issues

Support individual preferences and level of autonomy required in the home.

Supports comfort required in the home environment

Enliven Housing is a specialist disability housing provider of independent living options based in Sydney. Enliven Housing’s tenancy model of tenancy and support, is based on having 10 apartments in one complex, sustained by a Supported Independent Living Provider (SIL) located in a separate unit in the complex. The Enliven model encapsulates a deep understanding of the importance of Independence and Autonomy and how advances in technology provide a low cost, easy to use future proof solution for people with disability.

The AT we have Incorporated in the Enliven unit is designed for simplicity, ease of use and peace of mind. If you’re concerned about a relative living independently, you can set up a system so that if the kettle hasn’t been switched on since a set time in the morning, and the bedroom door hasn’t been opened, it will send the SIL a text message.

Door sensors can be set to trigger messages when a door is opened. Rules can be set up to control the time of day these might be set for. Motion sensors can be connected to things like smart lights so that the lights are switched on automatically if they sense movement, avoiding the need to cross a room to get to a light switch. They can be connected to a voice assistant like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home so can be triggered by voice command or by other sensors like a door or motion sensor or set on a timer to turn on between sunset and sunrise.

Voice assistants such as the Google Home and Amazon Alexa both have a call feature so a person can call a contact by voice request.

Home automation and monitoring also extends to sensors designed to monitor for things like leaks, but the same system can be set to check for taps left running for example.

ADAPTIVE AND SMART

The platform is also flexible to include 3rd party solutions so it can adapt to the environment and suit the participant’s needs and lifestyle.

A sample of the 3rd party products and compatible protocols

The system can be viewed from a computer, smart phone, or tablet from any location. The AT is not meant to replace ‘face to face’ support or invade one's privacy but simply offer an additional layer of security and safety to the participant. The data collected over a period provides valuable insights which allow a more proactive approach to care rather than the current reactive approach. The insights provided by the dashboard located in the SIL Hub inside the SDA development allows the SIL to view the status of 10 apartments with a single view, capturing key information supporting the tenant’s daily routine, gaining insights through the tracking of trends and patterns reducing incidents time responses.

SDA ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES HAS PARTNERED WITH ENLIVEN COMMUNITY TO BRING THE NEXT GENERATION SMART AT PLATFORM TO AUSTRALIA.

Enliven Community is a non-profit organisation providing independent housing advice for people with disability to support independent and informed choices. In the past 18 months, Enliven Community has pursued the idea to create a display space where people from the disability sector could visit, trial, touch and feel what living independently could look like inside a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) offering. A space where tenants, occupational therapists, allied health professionals, support co-ordinators, carers, family members feel comfortable learning more about SDA, tenancy rights, or any topic around housing and disability. The main purpose of the display space is to demonstrate current Assistive Technology (AT) in an SDA environment in conjunction with the work performed by Occupational Therapists in understanding the unique need for every participant.

Enliven Community and SDA Assistive Technologies are keen to demonstrate a strong leadership in AT for the disability sector. Work will commence late in 2020 on the 500sqm display space in the suburb of Granville in Sydney and completion is anticipated to the public in March 2021.

Learn more about the Enliven Community's new Assistive Technology Display space by calling them on 1300 210 220.