Earswitch: New Technology To Help With Assisted Living

assisted-living-technology

A switch operated only by your ear muscles has won first place at The National Robotarium event for robotics and care at the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

Having a real-life person – a professional care worker or family member, tend to your every need when recovering from an operation or suffering with a bad back is a privilege to have. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, we all have our own unique situation and circumstances, or maybe you prefer not to rely on someone for all of your daily needs.

Earswitch can give you back some of your independence in situations like these, allowing you to operate many household appliances and devices from only your ear.

Here’s what the Scottish Housing News reported about Earswitch’s part in the event…

The ‘Earswitch’ was created by primary care practitioner, Dr Nick Gompertz, from Somerset and is supported by funding from NIHR. Dr Gompertz previously proved voluntary movements of the eardrum could be filmed and then used to trigger a virtual keyboard for MND and complex stroke sufferers.

Explaining his involvement in the event, Dr Gompertz, inventor of the Earswitch, said: “The Mashup has helped to accelerate and widen the applications of the Earswitch prototype. During the event, we’ve used the Earswitch to control disability software which then can connect to devices throughout the National Robotarium’s assisted living lab and beyond. This allows a user to control multiple appliances in a home setting with their ear muscle alone.

“Everyone with assisted living needs faces a unique set of challenges so they can end up with multiple devices to support their needs. The updated Earswitch prototype can now control a single access point from which to surf the internet, control wheelchairs, operate home appliances and even play computer games.”

Team Communicare, led by Dr Mel McKendrick, assistant professor, School of Social Science, Psychology, at Heriot-Watt University, was declared the event’s winner with their concept for technology-aided social cognition and human interaction.

You can read the full story here.

We being a senior living community ourselves, find this news refreshing and will be following closely how the technology advances.

What are your thoughts? Do you have concerns about this technology, do you think it will be welcomed by those needing extra care? Do let us know by leaving your comments below and feel free to share this article on Facebook.

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Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 11’8

Kitchen area: 12’7 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 16′ x 12’7

Bedroom two: 14’4 x 11’4

Bathroom: 8’5 x 6’8

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 11’8

Kitchen area: 9’8 x 6’2

Bedroom one: 15’4 x 12’7

Bathroom: 7’2 x 6’2

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 12’4

Kitchen area: 12’4 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 16′ x 12’1

Bedroom two: 11’4 x 6’5

Bathroom: 8’5 x 6’8

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 11’8

Kitchen area: 9’8 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 13’4 x 11’4

Bathroom: 7’2 x 6’2

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 12’4

Kitchen area: 12’4 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 17’7 x 10’4

Bedroom two: 11’4 x 8’2

Bathroom: 8’5 x 6’8

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 14’10

Kitchen area: 12’7 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 16′ x 12’1

Bedroom two: 11’4 x 8’1

Bathroom: 8’5 x 6’8

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 11’8

Kitchen area: 12’7 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 17’7 x 10’4

Bedroom two: 16′ x 7’8

Bathroom: 7’8 x 6’8

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 11’8

Kitchen area: 12’7 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 16′ x 10’4

Bedroom two: 14’4 x 7’8

Bathroom: 8’5 x 6’8

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 14’10

Kitchen area: 12’7 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 13’4 x 10’4

Bedroom two: 11’4 x 8’2

Bathroom: 8’6 x 6’8

Lounge / Dining area: 17’3 x 12’7

Kitchen area: 12’7 x 5’9

Bedroom one: 13’4 x 10’4

Bedroom two: 11’4 x 7’8

Bathroom: 8’6 x 6’8

RoomMetricImperial
Living/Dining Room8.4m x 4.2m max27.5ft x 13.7ft
Kitchen area3.6m x 2.5m11.8ft x 8.2ft
Bedroom 13.6m x 3.0m11.8ft x 9.8ft
Bedroom 23.6m x 3.0m11.8ft x 9.8ft

Total area: approx 78.69 sq metres (844 sq ft)

Plots: 3, 5, 14, 17, 18, 21, 26, 27, 34, 42

* Floorplans and dimensions are taken from architectural drawings and could vary during construction and are provided for guidance only. Floorplans are not to scale.

Room Metric Imperial
Living/Dining Room 7.25m x 3.5m 23.7ft x 11.4ft
Kitchen area 3.5m x 2.1m 11.4ft x 6.8ft
Bedroom 1 3.6m x 3.0m 11.8ft x 9.8ft
Bedroom 2 3.6m x 3.0m 11.8ft x 9.8ft

Total area: approx 67.55 sq metres (750 sq ft)

Plots: 4, 8, 11, 12, 15, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41

* Floorplans and dimensions are taken from architectural drawings and could vary during construction and are provided for guidance only. Floorplans are not to scale.

Room Metric Imperial
Living/Dining Room 7.25m x 3.5m 23.7ft x 11.4ft
Kitchen area 3.5m x 2.1m 11.4ft x 6.8ft
Bedroom 1 3.6m x 3.0m 11.8ft x 9.8ft
Bedroom 2 3.6m x 3.0m 11.8ft x 9.8ft

Total area: approx 67.55 sq metres (750 sq ft)

Plots: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20, 22, 25, 28, 32, 33, 35, 36

* Floorplans and dimensions are taken from architectural drawings and could vary during construction and are provided for guidance only. Floorplans are not to scale.

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Monthly/annual costs to be collected by Bluehill’s Developments Property Management Company


apartment (1 bed) apartment (2 bed) bungalow
monthly service charge (PM) £200 £240 £285
ground rent (PA) £450 £450 £450
total monthly cost £237.50 £277.50 £322.50
total annual cost £2850 £3330 £3870

*monthly cost is approximated based on annual ground rent inclusion.