With smart home technology, the residents of our group home in Jackson, NJ, are able to do much more for themselves.
Home safety is on everyone’s mind, and knowledge is power. For persons with disabilities, this takes on an even greater degree of importance. Though the Samsung SmartThings home monitoring kit was designed for the consumer market, as a means of offering access to home security it becomes an assistive technology device. The SmartThings home monitoring kit consists of a hub that connects a suite of devices to monitor, control, and secure the home, from home or anywhere else. The Samsung SmartThings home monitoring system is more affordable than a traditional home security array.
Although the Amazon Echo is marketed to the general public, its hands-free voice-recognition capabilities make it an important assistive technology device for people with physical disabilities.
It all starts with the SmartThings hub. From there, one can add compatible cameras, locks, alarms, sensors, and lights. The SmartThings home monitoring kit contains two multipurpose sensors to check whether inner and outer doors (including the garage), windows, and cabinets are open or closed. There’s also an outlet to control lights, electronics, and small appliances (especially smart devices), lights, and thermostats – often via voice assistants (see below). This capability is especially valuable to residents with mobility challenges. Finally, it comes with a motion sensor to monitor movement in the home. Best of all, setting up the SmartThings home monitoring kit is easy, as is expanding it.
In an earlier piece, we touted the virtues of the Amazon Echo, which we also carry at our Technology Lending Center. Both are examples of items marketed to everyday consumers serving the disability community as assistive technology. (And, yes, the SmartThings system connects to the Echo, along with other smart speakers.) And the Samsung SmartThings home monitoring system is just one of the latest examples of the smart home technology we have available. In addition, we’ve started using it ourselves, having incorporated it into our brand-new home in Jackson, NJ.
