SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM LED BY THE ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY
LEADS THE WAY IN 'SMART HOMES' DESIGN
Smart
homes have the potential to empower older people and people
with disabilities to lead independent lives in their own
homes.
In
the light of recent government policies on care in the community
and social care the Faculty of Design of The Robert Gordon
University, Aberdeen, has undertaken a radical new project
aiming to help achieve these policies and improve the lot
of older people with disabilities. The CUSTODIAN project
is funded through the European Commission’s Telematics
for Improving Employment and Quality of Life sector. Its
central objective is to enable access to technology and
services for older people and people with disabilities and
use smart home technology to improve the quality, effectiveness
and efficiency of services that support the independent
living of disabled and elderly people, which is also in
line with Government policy. The devices in a smart home
and their interactions can be designed in such a way that
the system as a whole meets the very specific needs of the
householder.
The
Robert Gordon University is co-ordinating an interdisciplinary
consortium on this project and provides expertise in built
environment and social sciences. For the development of
software, the consortium relies on the University of Reading
department of Cybernetics and the University of Porto in
Portugal. Technological and market expertise is provided
by an industrial partner, the European Installation Bus
Association (EIBA). Experience of the use of ‘smart
home' systems in the service of people with a range of different
disabilities is provided by Edinvar Housing Association,
based in Edinburgh and a public sector consortium in Tayside.
Edinvar are recognised leaders in the field of ‘smart
home’ technology, with National awards for their demonstration
house, as well in universal design, having published what
amounts to a standard text on the subject. The Tayside Consortium
consists of a number of Local Authorities, care providers
and Healthcare Trusts.
The
project's overall aim is the successful integration of a
wide range of assistive technologies, general consumer electronics
products and systems around a home network; these networks
are called 'Smart
Homes'. A smart or intelligent home uses readily available
devices many of which are currently used in home security
systems, such as
·
infra-red
sensors
·
pressure
pads
·
magnetic
reed switches
The
design of the devices and methods of connection can be undertaken
using the CUSTODIAN software and specified home plans can
be developed to meet the needs of the individual.
This means that the home can become responsive to
the needs of the occupant and configured to assist them.
Systems that are more complex can be designed depending
on the level of disability or impairment that the person
has.
Dr
Martin Edge, Project Manager, said: "This project is
very much in line with recent announcements on government
policy concerning care in community for older people and
people with disabilities. CUSTODIAN is a highly innovative
project that is representative of the good work that not
only The Robert Gordon University is doing in this field,
but also the work of out partners on this project."
For
further information contact: SEARCH, Scottish Centre for
Environmental Design Research, School of Architecture, Garthdee
Road, Aberdeen. AB10 7QB.
Tel:
01224 263539 Fax:
01224 263737
Email:
m.edge@rgu.ac.uk
ENDS 6th
October 2000
Issued
on behalf of The Robert Gordon University by Chris Robertson,
Public Affairs Department, tel: 01224 262210, fax: 01224
262224, email: c.robertson@rgu.ac.uk
