Environmental Control Units and Assistive Technology “Switches”

Operational Training

Definition of Terms

• • • The United States lags far behind the world especially the European Union in providing safe, comfortable and independent living environments for older adults and those with disabilities. While the US uses terms like Electronic Aids for Daily Living and Environment Control Units, the world outside the US uses terms like Ambient Assisted Living , Ambient Intelligence and ultimately an Attentive rather than Smart Home* For the sake of clarity I am using the terminology Environment Control Unit, ECU. It is the most widely used term in the US and most descriptive of the tasks being performed.

Perhaps some day the US will “catch up” to the world and Ambient Assisted Living will be the appropriate terminology.

* Proceeding of ICOST, International Conference on Smart Homes and Health Telemetrics (2003 – 2010) 2

Goals

• Provide a real world demonstration of two variations of Environmental Control Units, ECUs.

• Demonstrate different “access techniques” and “switches” available to control Assistive Technology devices.

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Introduction to ECUs • Designed to provide “command & control” of electrical appliances such as: – TV, radio – Interior and exterior lighting – – Open/close doors and curtains Adjust thermostat • User interface is adapted to accommodate the consumer’s capability – Switches • simple push button • proximity • sip ‘n puff – Voice Recognition – Computer screen point and click • Appliance control and communication techniques for this demonstration – Infrared (IR) transmission – Radio frequency (RF) – Power Line (X-10) – Hybrid combinations i.e. RF – X10 or IR – X10 4

IR Overview

• • • • • Infrared Control – modulated IR i.e. invisible light beam Same technology as used with home TV and stereo Primarily line-of-sight but will bounce off hard walls and ceilings ECU controller must be “trained” using existing remote controller Using the existing remote control unit is the only technique available “train” the ECU controller 5

X-10 Overview

• • • • Control information is transmitted over existing house wiring An X-10 Controller “transmits” commands An X-10 Receiver “receives” commands X-10 Controller and Receiver plug into the existing house power outlets • • • • Lamps and appliances plug into the X-10 Receiver ECU provides either an RF or IR link to the X-10 Controller X-10 protocol provides for House Code and Device Codes X-10 requires a “phase coupler” for typical residential use 6

X-10 Controller and Receiver

RF link to ECU

X-10 Controller House Code X-10 Receiver X-10 protocol transmitted over existing house wiring Lamp plugged into X-10 Receiver Unit Code House Code 7

• Push Buttons Access Techniques “ Direct Selection” • Point and click • Voice Recognition HAI Home Automation Solutions SiCare Light II Power Link 4 8

Access Techniques “ Indirection Selection i.e. Scanning” • Horizontal and Vertical Menu Scanning • Single switch - Relax 3 – Scanning is automatic – Switch controls “selection” • • Dual switch - SiCare Light – One switch controls scanning or sequencing – Second switch controls “selection” User feedback – Visual feedback - Relax 3 – Auditory & Visual feedback - SiCare 9

Visual Feedback - Horizontal scan - Vertical scan

Relax 3

IR Control to TV, Stereo, etc RF Link RF Linked X-10 Controller Click for Relax 3 basic operations video Single Switch Operation 10

Relax 3 Maintenance 9V Battery Compartment Battery is not rechargeable Replace with standard 9V battery 11

Relax 3 - IR Device Training Video

• • • • • • Today’s TV and stereo equipment is controlled by a hand held “remote” or remote controller.

This “remote” controls the TV, stereo, CD, etc. by transmitting a “sequence” of IR pulses This IR pulse “sequence” from the existing Remote Control must be programmed into the ECU controller The following is a video of how to program the Relax 3 using an existing TV remote.

The information in the video is also provided in the Relax 3 documentation.

Click for the Relax 3 IR training video 12

Relax 3 - TV Operation

• The Relax 3 provides 10 operations for a TV/VCR combination: – Power - Mute – Channel + - Play – Channel – - Stop – Volume + - Rewind – Volume – - Fast Forward • Click for the Relax 3 TV operation video 13

Relax 3 – TASH Telephone Functions • • • • The Relax 3 allows the consumer to: – answer and hang up calls, – – place calls to numbers stored in the directory place calls to five (5) speed dial numbers. The Relax 3 controls the TASH Telephone thru an IR link same as the TV/VCR All IR sequences are pre-programmed, no user programming is required.

The Relax 3 will only operate the TASH Telephone 14

Relax 3 – TASH Telephone Operation • The Relax 3 provides 10 operations for the TASH telephone : – Answer/Hang up - Speed Dial 1 – Directory - Speed Dial 2 – Down - Speed Dial 3 – Up - Speed Dial 4 – Dial - Speed Dial 5 • Click for the Relax 3 Telephone video 15

Relax 3 - Wheelchair Mounted

Relax 3 Actuator “Button” Switch 16

SiCare Light II with Chin & Cheek Switches 17

Chin and Cheek Switches

Cheek Switch Chin Switch 18

Chin & Cheek Cabling to SiCare Light II from Two 1/8 Mono Plugs to One 2.5 mm Stereo Plug 1/8 inch or 3.5 mm stereo plug 2.5 mm stereo socket 1/8 inch Mono Plug for Cheek switch 1/8 inch Mono Sockets 2.5 mm stereo plug 3.5 mm stereo socket 1/8 inch Mono Plug for Chin switch 19

SiCare Light II

• • • • • Speaker Dependent Voice Recognition Dual Switch Scanning Auditory and visual feedback IR Control of Audio/Video Equipment IR – X10 for power line appliance control 20

SiCare Configuration

• • • • Bedside Mounting Consumer interface – Voice Recognition – Dual switch scanning using Chin & Cheek switches Controls table Lamp via IR to X-10 Controls SunSounds Radio via IR to X-10 21

SiCare Operational Configuration X-10 Controller (IR to X-10 Converter) Controlled Lamp X-10 Protocol IR transmission SiCare Light II X-10 Protocol transmitted over existing home wiring Cheek Switch Chin Switch Lamp plugs into X-10 receiver X-10 Receiver 22

SiCare Maintenance

Batteries are rechargeable Contact supplier before replacing Keep SiCare stored in “cradle” and plugged-in when not is use 23

SiCare X-10 Controller & Receivers

House code set to “I” Lamp Unit Code = 1 Radio Unit Code = 2 IR to X-10 Controller House code set to “I” 24

SiCare X-10 Receiver Location

Power Strip with X-10 Receivers 25

SiCare X-10 Receivers Installed

Power cord from IR to X-10 Controller X-10 Receiver for table Lamp X-10 Receiver for SunSounds Radio 26

SiCare Setup and Voice Training

• SiCare Device Setup video • SiCare Voice Training video 27

SiCare “Red” Switch Operation

Red left switch is “scan or sequence” operation Red right switch is “select” operation SiCare Operation with Front Panel “Red” switches video 28

SiCare “Chin & Cheek” Switch Operation Red left switch equivalent - sequence Red right switch equivalent - select SiCare Operation with Chin and Cheek switches video 29

SiCare Voice Recognition Operation

No switches !

SiCare Operation with Voice Recognition video , 30

Universal Bedroom

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Demonstration Configuration

The Relax 3 is programmed to control the TV/VCR and TASH Telephone The SiCare Light II is programmed to control the table Lamp and SunSounds Radio 32

Universal Bedroom – Detail 1

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Universal Bedroom – Detail 2

Lamp Controlled via SiCare X-10 IR to X-10 Controller used with SiCare SunSounds Radio Controlled via SiCare X-10 TASH Telephone Controlled via Relax 3 X-10 Receivers 34

Universal Bedroom – Detail 3

TV Controlled Via Relax 3 SiCare Light II and Chin & Cheek Switches

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For additional information on ECUs, adaptive switches and other Assistive Technology devices please visit: www.resna.org

Or your state’s Tech Act Program http://www.ataporg.org

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