ESSENTIAL ASSISTED LIVING
ASSISTED LIVING TECHNOLOGIES – PLAN AHEAD KNX sensors are stand alone and can be called upon to perform a multitude of tasks as appropriate and trigger emergency responses
With a KNX platform, the technology you install for people now, during their heyday, can be specified with an eye to future adaptations for assisted living argues Paul Foulkes, KNX UK President. After all, futureproof and flexible have always been bywords for KNX, and the world’s leading smart control communications protocol is ahead of the pack by a country mile when it comes to enabling smart systems to evolve with peoples requirements. The concept of technology-enabled assisted living that goes far beyond telecare and pullcord alarms, is a familiar one now, and there are countless examples of projects where people have achieved the freedom to live more independently for longer. Assisted living is no longer focussed on emergency response, but now looks to making day-to-day living easier and more enjoyable. Increasing cyber-security has allayed concerns about reliability and privacy, and technology has clearly won the trust of users and their families. Installing it is a growing opportunity for skilled installers who already have the core skills of integration and customisation. There is a growing realisation that loss of ability through aging or illness is more often than not a process, not an overnight event, and
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provision for assisted living is not ‘all or nothing’. Ideally technical solutions will be adaptive, and a natural evolution of the smart control people already enjoy in the prime of life. That’s where smart integration comes in. Just to remind you, in case you’ve not yet looked into how KNX will boost your business, KNX is an open communication protocol, a common language that guarantees that control devices talk to each other. Devices for all applications, from wall panels to behindthe-scenes actuators and servers, will work together seamlessly. Controls from any of the hundreds of manufacturers that offer certified products, can be programmed with the user-friendly KNX software tool, ETS – and reprogrammed when you need to update or reconfigure the system (all new devices are guaranteed as backwards compatible – there is never redundancy). Replacing devices to add different functionality as homeowners’ needs change over the years is straightforward, and doesn’t call for intrusive, expensive rewiring,
as KNX devices communicate via a common scalable bus or RF. KNX secure protocols allow for remote access and maintenance with confidence. The bottom line is that a KNX bus-based installation for a family in the prime of life is also the platform that will serve them in later years. There is no need for compromise on the design or functionality of their current solution, but there is the assurance that individual, evolving needs can be catered for with the minimum of fuss and bother. A KNX-controlled home really is a forever home. For those with a physical disability, general KNX-controlled
lighting,
heating,
blinds
and video entry often form the basis of their installation, but there will also be the need for, say, window and door openers, and improved front-end controls for smart phones or voice activation. The final set up and programming is where more functionality and enhancements can be implemented.
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