Environmental Control Units and

Assistive Technology “Switches” Operational Training

Prepared forFoundation for Senior Living

Phoenix, AZ

Prepared by Arizona Technology Access Program

Phoenix, AZ

Arizona Technology Access Program 2

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)

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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 – X105/19/2010

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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

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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

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X-10 Controller and Receiver

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X-10 protocol transmitted over existing house wiring

X-10 ReceiverX-10 Controller

RF link to ECU

Lamp plugged into X-10 Receiver

House Code

Unit Code

House Code

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Access Techniques“Direct Selection”

• Push Buttons

• Point and click

• Voice Recognition

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Power Link 4

SiCare Light II

HAI Home Automation Solutions

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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

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Relax 3

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IR Control to TV, Stereo, etc

RF Linked X-10 Controller

RF Link Single Switch Operation

Visual Feedback - Horizontal scan - Vertical scan

Click for Relax 3 basic operations video

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Relax 3 Maintenance9V Battery Compartment

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Battery is not rechargeable

Replace with standard 9V battery

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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

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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 video5/19/2010

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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 Telephone5/19/2010

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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 video5/19/2010

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Relax 3 - Wheelchair Mounted

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Relax 3

Actuator “Button” Switch

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SiCare Light II with Chin & Cheek Switches

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Chin and Cheek Switches

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Cheek Switch

Chin Switch

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Chin & Cheek Cabling to SiCare Light IIfrom Two 1/8 Mono Plugs to One 2.5 mm Stereo Plug

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1/8 inch Mono Plug for Cheek switch

1/8 inch Mono Plug for Chin switch

1/8 inch or 3.5 mm stereo plug

2.5 mm stereo plug

1/8 inch Mono Sockets

3.5 mm stereo socket

2.5 mm stereo socket

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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

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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

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SiCare Operational Configuration

Cheek Switch

SiCare Light II

X-10 Controller(IR to X-10 Converter)

IR transmissionX-10 Protocol transmitted overexisting home wiring

X-10 Receiver

Chin Switch

Controlled LampX-10 Protocol

Lamp plugs into X-10 receiver

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SiCare Maintenance

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Keep SiCare stored in “cradle” and plugged-in when not is use

Batteries are rechargeableContact supplier before replacing

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SiCare X-10 Controller & Receivers

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IR to X-10 Controller

House code set to “I”

House code set to “I”

Lamp Unit Code = 1 Radio Unit Code = 2

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SiCare X-10 Receiver Location

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Power Strip with X-10 Receivers

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SiCare X-10 Receivers Installed

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Power cord from IR to X-10 Controller

X-10 Receiverfor table Lamp

X-10 Receiver for SunSounds Radio

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SiCare Setup and Voice Training

• SiCare Device Setup video

• SiCare Voice Training video

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SiCare “Red” Switch Operation

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Red right switch is “select” operationRed left switch is “scan or sequence” operation

SiCare Operation with Front Panel “Red” switches video

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SiCare “Chin & Cheek” Switch Operation

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Red left switch equivalent - sequence

Red right switch equivalent - select

SiCare Operation with Chin and Cheek switches video

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SiCare Voice Recognition Operation

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No switches !

SiCare Operation with Voice Recognition video ,

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Universal Bedroom

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Demonstration Configuration

The Relax 3 is programmed to control the TV/VCR and TASH Telephone

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The SiCare Light II is programmed to control the table Lamp and SunSounds Radio

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Universal Bedroom – Detail 1

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Universal Bedroom – Detail 2

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Lamp Controlled via SiCare X-10 SunSounds Radio

Controlled via SiCare X-10IR to X-10 Controller

used with SiCareTASH TelephoneControlled viaRelax 3

X-10 Receivers

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Universal Bedroom – Detail 3

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TV Controlled Via Relax 3

SiCare Light IIand Chin & CheekSwitches

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For Additional Information on Assistive Technology

Contact:Arizona Technology Access Program

Phoenix, AZ602-728-9534

5/19/2010

Arizona Technology Access Program 375/19/2010