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Smart technology demonstrator open to general public

On 1 May, the MedilinkWM initiative i-Health, launched the UK's first smart technology demonstrator created from a fully refurbished Victorian terraced house in West Bromwich. On 28 June, the house will be open to the general public in association with Digital Birmingham's Get Digital month festivities.

This smart technology demonstrator incorporates assistive technologies for fully able-bodied people to those with multiple or severe disabilities, including blindness, hearing impairment, mobility issues and dementia.

MedilinkWMs' CEO Tony Davis provides a virtual tour of the i-House.

"The i-House looks like a normal terraced house from the outside, but it has been adapted to allow easy access for all, as well as being cost and energy efficient. The entrance is at the side, allowing level access into the back yard. The gate boasts a number of features, including keyless entry and a video intercom linked to the TV so residents can see and hear guests before opening the automatic gate. The paving in the yard has embedded lights that switch on automatically as gate opens during low light conditions and for sight-impaired residents, the path, gravel and kerbs have tactile surfaces. The path has even been widened for easy access and an energy efficient air source heat pump is in the yard, replacing a traditional gas boiler and drastically reducing heating costs.

"The path leads to the conservatory, where there is level entry with a fingerprint reader to unlock and log entry and exit. This enables non-resident carers to monitor frequency and length of visits to the house, providing peace of mind.

"The conservatory leads to the kitchen, which includes eco-friendly one-touch taps that fill to pre-set levels and to comfortable temperatures as well as a rise and fall sink so wheelchair users and the rest of the family can use it easily. All domestic appliances are connected to a finger print reader, which activates the hob, oven, microwave and kettle individually, so occupants only have access to items they can manage safely. A flood detector is also fitted, which shuts off the water supply and alerts the occupant or carer.

"The kitchen leads on to a storeroom which holds the main computer hub, the i-Cue™ system, which is the main brain for the house. The system controls the heating, windows and entry systems, monitors activity in the house and provides voice messages that inform residents of updates to conditions.

"The kitchen leads through to the bathroom, which has a wet room floor, level access shower, low level panic button, PIR sensor to monitor activity, a touchless control for the toilet flush and Eco-Logic controls that control the temperature and fill-level to reduce water wastage and eliminate accidental floods.

"In the living room, cabling runs around the room underneath easy to access panelling and trunking, to allow users to add and move sockets and plugs around the room with ease. It's a classic "future proofing" technique. This is combined with an infrared unit in the ceiling that responds to all remote control appliances including the TV, lighting and audio systems. This means a resident can control their entire environment with one remote control or mobile phone.

"The lounge leads on to the dining room, which has a discreet through floor lift as well as an automatic blind that can be remotely opened and closed, windows that open inwards for easy reach, accessible wall lights, 'future proof' cable panelling and trunking, and the main feature, a range of telemedcare units that measure all vital signs including blood pressure and heart rate. For those with long term conditions, this monitoring can reduce hospital out patient visits and trips to the GP, saving time and reducing patient miles.

"From the lounge, the stairs are fitted with a stair lift which bends around corners and fits snugly against the wall, ensuring residents can still use the stairs despite limited space. In the first bedroom, the through floor lift provides easy access, while the room is fitted with a panic button, 'future proof' cable panelling and trunking, accessible wall lights and the window and the heating controls are linked, ensuring that energy is saved by closing the window automatically when the heating switches on.

"In the second bedroom, which houses an adjustable bed, a bi-fold door opens onto the en-suite, maximising access for wheelchair users. The toilet has been positioned for easy access, incorporating touchless controls as well as panic button.

"The whole house is fitted with high specification eco-friendly windows, dry lining insulation on all external walls to help improve heat retention, a passivent ventilation system and ceiling mounted speakers for audio output from the i-Cue™ system, as well as all extra wide doors for ease of access."