Enhanced Independence

Appliances

Appliances such as smart refrigerators can help track grocery purchases and facilitate re-ordering directly from a control panel located on the door. Door-mounted screens allow the user to adjust the temperatures in their refrigerator, view interior and exterior camera images, and view the inside of the refrigerator from a smartphone to see what is needed while at the grocery store.

Other smart appliances, such as washers, dryers, dishwashers and ovens can also be programmed, remotely controlled, and set to operate at night or on weekends to take advantage of lower electricity pricing. There are also smart cook-tops/ranges that feature timers, motion detectors and automatic shut-down controls to reduce the hazard associated with use by individuals with memory related impairments.

Electrical Outlets

Outlets control anything that has an electrical plug such as lamps, fans, humidifiers, air purifiers, electronics, or home water fountains. These devices can be operated remotely from any location through the use of a smartphone or tablet.

Digital Hubs

A smart hub is a central control device that connects all smart devices in the home and allows communication among them. For example, you can use a hub to remotely control electric outlets, thermostats, lighting, entertainment, and security through voice activation or smartphone apps. Several applications are also available to allow social connection between family members and friends and provide easy access to a range of social networking platforms.

Home Assistants

Digital home assistants are arguably the most beneficial smart devices for anyone seeking to enhance their independence. These hands-free, voice-controlled devices utilize voice-to-text interpretation technologies that enable them to respond to voice commands and to control practically all other smart devices in a home.

Given this extraordinary capability, they are among the most valuable devices to consider for those with mobility and visual limitations. They are commonly used to play music, make telephone calls, send and receive messages, provide information, read the news aloud, function as calendar reminders and alarm clocks, read audiobooks aloud, and control the television and other entertainment systems. Some of digital assistants also feature video screens.

Home Controllers

If you are interested in achieving the highest degree of independence, a whole home controller may be for you. These devices utilize a unified software interface on a touch-screen or mobile application that allows you to control all other devices managing the safety, security, space and air quality conditioning, lighting and entertainment systems at once. These systems overcome the challenge of having to learn the operating characteristics and commands of many different software applications that manage each of the individual devices. Most of these whole home controllers also feature voice command operation enabling use by those with motor skill and/or visual limitations.