For some of us, technology is this big, scary, not at all understood THING, and we have even less capacity to control it. But technology has been around as long as you have. What we are talking about here though, is another step up from the tech you already know. You know what it’s like to have electricity to turn on lights in your house, and to dial a number into a phone to call a friend for a chat or a taxi to take you to the shops, or even clean your clothes in a washing machine. The next step however, is to allow these mundaine tasks to be a little easier, or even just something we don’t even have to think about. And for some, technology allows us to do things that our body or situation limits us doing, and for me, that’s where the joy of technology really lies. Imagine waking up of a morning, to your house already warmed to how you like it, and the kettle boiled, ready for that first cup of tea in the morning! 😀
Some transparency before I start though, this is written from the perspective of both the physical and social/emotional limitations that both my daughter and I currently have, living in a regional Australian city. It’s fair to say, I cannot cover all disabilities, and I have no desire to cover every piece of tecnology, but hopefully it will encourage you to try. And some of our technology is funded by Australia’s National Disability Scheme (NDIS), and some of it is just personally acquired and appreciated!
Mobile phone / Smartphone – Yep, I am going to start here. 90% of all adult Australian’s own a mobile phone, if not a smartphone (it’s now quite hard to buy a mobile that isn’t a smartphone, and the difference is the capacity to interact with the screen). Falls alarms have SIM cards in them, and so much of the technology that supports us, starts with the items we can carry with us.
Internet – specifically NBN, or the National Broadband Network. Again, with over 90% of all Australians having access to a fast stable internet, and plans that average as low as $50/month, this is almost a given, and pretty much ALL of the “Internet of Things” category needs internet to connect and access.
Voice Assistants (Google Hub, Alexa, Apple Homepod and a few others) – Now this is really where we start to get super-techy! These little beasts are the basis to all “voice control” capabilities. When I wake of a morning, I say “OK Google, Good morning!”, and it responds with the weather for the day, my first 3 calendar events, the current news, and two particular podcasts that are relevant to me. This allows me to have a clue how to dress myself and my child, what we have planned for the day (let’s be honest, we can easily forget!), what’s going on in the world, and then topics of interest to me while I am making my first cup of coffee. Voice assistants allow for many other daily tasks as well, but for most part, access to information is literally a question away. And for those concerned about the “something in my house is listening to me”, the security built into these devices is ever-increasing, and due to international laws, is being designed with privacy in mind.
The next group of technologies fits into the affectionately named “Internet of Things” (IoT), and yeah, they really can make your life a whole lot easier, but they are somewhat dependent on having one to all three of the first listed technologies.
Automatic Thermostat (Sensibo / Eve / Tado) – These little beasts either attach to a wall (or in my case, sometimes just on the top of the bookcase), and are a thermostat, and allow for voice control of remote controlled heating and cooling aircon units, heat pumps, and the like. I can both turn on the aircon unit by voice at any time of the day, or can set it on auto, so that when criteria are met, the aircon unit kicks into action automatically (ie, the air temp in the living room drops to 12 degrees anytime from May to August every year, the aircon automatically kicks in, and heats to a minimum of 18 degrees).
Falls/Personal Alarm – SureSafe is the version I use, which is IP65 rated (water and dustproof), and allows me to schedule in 5 numbers into it, and if at any time I breach the parameters that have been set, it will alert all of the contacts to my current situation, and a map of location. There are a number of varieties, however having one that has a SIM card (for mobile reception) pre-installed, allows this to be a fully portable device. Mine also comes with a myriad of options to attach to myself, so it’s always on me.
Smart Watch (Apple Watch, Samsung Watch and so many other choices here) – specifically Apple and Samsung have a ‘connected watch’ that by the beginning of 2021, are the only two brands that have medical falls technology built into the watch. But if you already have a Falls/Personal Alarm, then a smart watch can still be of assistance, just not for emergency situations. And if you are someone who wears a watch, this is a great transition into wearable technology. However, smart watch can offer so much more – I can take a phone call, add to my shopping list (by talking to my watch), read emails and texts easily, check in with my heart rate and do mindfulness when I have an anxiety attack, record a conversation that I am part of, check the weather at a glance, start/monitor a workout, pay for a cup of coffee while out and about, and many more. Of course, it will need a smartphone to connect to.
Automatic Vacuum/Mopping Robots (Roomba) – Single level dwellings, especially if you have cats or dogs, automatic vacuum or mopping robots are a godsend. They will do this dreaded task with almost zero effort. I have had the most popular model for more than 5 years, and while the technology has changed considerably in five years, it takes one press of a button to automatically vacuum my whole house, and it actually gets into the places that a standard cleaner and vacuum cannot.
Electronic Kettle / All in One Cookers – Yeah, ok, Electronic Kettles are definitely not on the critical list, but there is something just blissful to waking up, pressing a button on my phone, and KNOWING that my kettle is going to stay hot until I get my lazy butt to the kitchen to make my essential cup of coffee in the morning. I haven’t gone so far as having a robot to bring it to me, and it’s possibly the perils of single-life-parenting – it’s just something I won’t let my 6yo do! A more controversial ‘kitchen tech’ is the Thermomix (or other all in one ThermoCookers) for ease of cooking. There’s a number of different brands in this category now, but it is one of the items I use in the kitchen a lot, especially from a fatigue management perspective – I can literally sit on a chair, and put in all of the ingredients in their order, and the meal turns out perfectly every time – and there is absolutely no risk of me slicing my finger off.
Security / Doorbell Cameras – Allowing you to interact with someone at the door, without having to ever go to it, seeing if there’s been a parcel left, awareness of what the pets or humans are doing through the day, are all lovely features of security cameras. One of the more recent features of cameras in the capacity to identify the person in the vision, and when linked with a security lock on doors, allows you to give access to approved people without going to the door.
Air Purifiers & Humidifiers – Aircons can fit in this category too, and worth considering if you are replacing a broken unit, or building a new house. A fair consideration if you have a medical condition that makes these units a necessity. Imagine a world where the items in your house could respond to the environmental conditions, and change their settings based on your needs? I appreciate one less thing to think about.
Door and Window Sensors – Regularly feeling so fatigued and as a single parent, it’s easy to head to bed without checking all the windows and doors, but I have just got a small sensor on each window or door that regularly gets opened in my house, and my phone is setup to alert me when conditions are not ideal. ie, after 9pm at night, if my ‘location’ on any of my wearable devices identifies that I have left the house, and the like.
Fans – Where I live, it can really get to be inefficient and expensive to always use the aircon to heat and cool, and I don’t have it in every room – voice controlling fans fits into this category of “items we can voice/externally control” that just make life a little more comfortable. I have some distance to cover to get to different areas of my home, and sometimes my body doesn’t work as efficiently – it’s super convenient to be able to have a ‘voice remote’.
Locks – Linked in with doorbell camera’s, wi-fi and bluetooth locks just use our face/fingerprint/touchpad to control the unlocking of the device – no more keys! Nothing truly fancy here, but I do appreciate being able to gain access to the area’s that I want to lock off, without having to go find the hide-a-key! All of these locks have the capacity to ‘change the code’, and so I never feel like I’m going to lose the key, or have to replace the lock because someone has a key that I cannot retrieve. I’m not locked out because ‘I lost the key!’
Power Outlets and Powerboards – This one is an interesting category. Given how much technology I have, I do also like to have ‘Energy Meters’ on each significant powerpoint, to monitor what’s costing me money. I also appreciate being able to turn off/on each powerpoint without physically standing beside it – and it allows me to turn standard items into ‘voice controlled’ devices. eg, fairy lights for lighting my long hallways during certain hours of the evening, this is how I control my ‘old-school’ portable fan. I buy the Arlec brand from Bunnings, and they have been working well for a number of years.
Taps – If you haven’t yet found the joy of a ‘flick-mixer’ tap, get onto that – sooo much easier for kids and adults alike. But the next step up, is the option that a number of modern shopping centre bathrooms now have – automatic faucets – and this works really well in the kitchen space. Definitely a conversation to have with an Occupational Therapist, or to consider if renovating/building. Simply swipe your hand in front of the tap, and it turns off/on, and the more recent ones allow to you ‘measure’ a certain amount of water per pour.
Windows – More than just a sensor, it’s possible to install a device that can automatically open most sliding glass windows and doors. Not like the big automatic doors we see in shopping centres, the ones currently being designed for home use are bulky, and still quite expensive. But let’s be honest, if you are in your wheelchair, it’s a whole bunch easier if the door opens by itself! And if your hands struggle to turn on a tap, you are just as likely to struggle with the mechanisms that allow you to open some windows and doors.
Smart Blinds and Curtains – Remote controlled blinds and curtains have been around for a while, just the technology is now cheaper and easier to access in the home environment. The models now can be after-market fitted to the number of blinds and curtains, and controlled by voice. And if you are in a home with a lot of windows, and colder months, these just make life a little easier – but if you are trying to live independently in a wheelchair, these devices make life possible!
Smoke Detectors – As of the beginning of 2021 in Australia, it’s a requirement that all dwellings have smoke alarms hardwired into a house, and set so that if one alarm is triggered, all go off, but due to the nature of legislation, it’s unlikely you’ll have one hardwired into a kitchen/living room area (if they are an open space). We also have capacity to purchase internet-connected smoke/co2 deteters that have the same features. The new ones also with link with your WiFi, and can play music through the same speakers. I appreciate that I can put an ‘extra’ smoke alarm in my living room space, for peace of mind, since I have an all-in-one Living/Dining/Kitchen space.
TV’s – Are these really that necessary? Don’t know, but I definitely use it! I can tell my TV to turn on, off, play a certain movie, ask it to make suggestions, latests news, listen to a podcast … the list goes on … I don’t watch a lot of TV, but when I do, I want it to be about my convenience. And that dreaded issue of losing the remote is just not a conversation I need to have.
Lights – including light strips and light panels – THE MOST USED TECHNOLOGY! Well, I think so … this is the one that I use the most. I have lights that turn on and off at certain times of the day, light panels on the wall that I can tell to turn on or off or interact with music playing and under-bench light strips that light up at night for ambient lighting so I don’t run into things when I get out of bed in the middle of the night. My lamps have colour change bulbs in them, so I can set a different mood if I feel like it, but every single one of these options works like a normal light, or something a little bit fancy. If the world of technology scares the ‘daylights’ out of you, this is also the cheapest and easiest place to start with how it all works – one colour change bulb can cost as little as $10.
The next group are simply Apps (or applications, as known in full) on a smart phone that I find very useful, but there are so many, that could be an article on its own – but these do specifically support me in a commonly developed deficiencies.
Favourites Bar on a Web Browser (Google Chrome) – whatever icon you click on to get access to the internet (a browser), you will likely see a list of your ‘favourites’ websites across the near-top of the screen. If not, you can turn it on (generally right-click, or click on a menu in the top left of the screen), and it gives you quick access to the websites and pages you like to view the most. I find this handy and fast – no more trying to think, when my brain already hurts!
Google Calendar – Not alone in my experience of ‘too much to do that my brain struggles to remember’ (and science backs me up on this point), so it’s not surprising that I recommend an online calendar. What I like about Google Calendar though, is that it’s constantly online, and available, and seems to be the most supported/stable platform – no squabbles about whether you are an iPhone or Android user. I don’t have to carry around a diary (it appears on my phone), I can ask my devices at home what I have scheduled for the day, and I can edit it (and add other people to it) where I need to.
Aloud! – This is simply a downloadable App on a smartphone. It’s a good one when I’m tired though – opening documents or websites into the app, the application will read all the text on the page. This is great for our MS Newsletter, and really any website that I want to ‘read’ but I have either forgotten my glasses, or my eyes hurt too much to bother trying to read.
Seeing Ai – Free version of an App that any Occupational Therapist recommended, but this one also supports vision failing. Upon opening the app, depending on the icon selected at the bottom of the screen, the app just reads/describes whatever is on the screen. Categories include Text (reads the typed text it sees), a Document (reads handwriting/text on a page), a barcode (identifies a product by the barcode scanned), Person (identifies the people in the scene, and describes their location), Currency (identifies the currency), Scene (describes the scene), Colour (identifies the colour the camera sees), handwriting (reads any handwriting) and Light (makes a sound based on how far aware or close and object is to the camera – deeper tones are close, higher tones are further away).
The last couple are simply Assistive Technology that aren’t standardly included in most Occupational Therapy reports, however work surprisingly well in our space.
Rubber-backed mats – There are two options here, the anti-slip matting that you can purchase from most cheap shops, is a great option to put under mats, kitchen equipment and the like, to stop slippage of items. However, for the purpose of covering floor tiles, I have found that large rubber-backed mats are a good choice too. This allows the mat not to slip around, especially on tiles, flexible over cords to reduce trip hazards, and my all-time favourite feature, can go in the washing machine when they get dirty! They are great for bathroom mats and also very effective for loungeroom furnishings.
Swivel Cushion – $15 from Kmart Australia. They are promoted to be used in the car on your front seat, but most modern cars don’t have a flat front seat, and the base of these little beauties needs to stay flat to work effectively. I use them on my wooden kitchen chairs, and they are stated to hold a weight of 100kg, but from my own experience, go much higher.
Anti-Glare / Heat reduction Window Film – For privacy and heat reduction in rooms, this is a cheap and very easily installed, and removable option. Purchased from most hardwares, it’s about $30 for 2.5 metres, and sticks onto windows, allowing you to still see out, but others not able to see in. It has easily reduced the daytime summer heat in one of my rooms by 5 degrees celsius, and that allows the fan to be more effective when required.
Shadecloth – Most would not expect this to be listed here, but for those of us that struggle to regulate our body temperature, however choose to live in modern houses, this is a great option. I have, like most that live in a Unit Complex, quite a small backyard, and have put shade cloth over the area, that reduces the amount of heat coming through my windows significantly. This both saves on electricity to heat and cool my house, and reduces the glare through my windows, making my spaces just a lot more liveable.
Indoor Clothesline – You’ve likely seen these in Bunnings or in the backyard of small Unit Complexes, but did you know that you can install a retractable clothesline indoors – wall to wall of an internal garage? Hills is a common brand, and it allows for me or my supports to be able to hang my clothes day or night, not weather dependant, and I don’t have to get in or out a door to do it! And lets be honest, it’s cheaper than a clothes dryer. This is not at all taking away from the technology of combined Front Loader Washing Machines / Dryers that are all in one – these can work well, but are often a choice when our current choices break down or need replacing.
All of this technology can seem overwhelming, but even just one or two items can make a significant difference. The capacity to see who’s at the front door when you are out in the back garden, simplicity of being able to schedule lights to come on automatically when you are away from home, or to comfortably get up from a seat without twisting your back, just makes life a little easier. To get more information on any of these items, and so many other choices that are available, use technology to look this up on the internet … a quick search on a computer, looking at videos on YouTube … you might be surprised what you’ll find.
* And as an endnote, while this wasn’t written directly for you Miss M (an adorably creative and supportive human), you know it’s totally what we agreed to! I look forward to listening to your first installment! :-D.
Doing Life Differently 