February 18, 2005
Panic Button
Interesting use of current technology. Extreme Tech has a report on a panic button for older people: bq. ZigBee "Panic Button" Calls For Help Lusora has developed a nifty new twist on solving the "I've fallen and I can't get up" problem. The company rolled out its LISA pendant, and a series of monitors, which use the new Zigbee low-speed mesh network to provide security to elderly people who want to live at home, and their family. bq. The LISA system – which stands for Lusora Intelligent Sensory Architecture – includes a wearable pendant, an in-light switch video camera, sensors and receivers create a low-power home monitoring system that will help an aging population stay in their homes. bq. The pendant, which is worn around the neck, includes an array of accelerometers, buttons on the front and back, and a low-power Zigbee radio. If a rapid acceleration is detected (such as when someone falls over), or the two buttons are pressed in tandem, the pendant connects to an intelligent controller – which then contacts one of four alerting and monitoring companies, or contacts a family member directly. bq. The wireless monitoring system also includes a tiny digital camera embedded in a light switch. It's not a video camera – the low-power zigbee wireless mesh network doesn't have the bandwidth for that. Instead, it delivers a still image of a room to the controller. But it can only be activated when an alert occurs, either via the pendant or one of the other sensors the company is developing. Very cool - I like the accelerometer idea. Under $300 to buy into the system with additional modules in the $50 to $100 range. Sounds like good stuff.
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