Aging gracefully with technology

What is Senior Living Automation?

Senior Living Automation is meant for the convenience, comfort and safety provided to the senior living facility integrated with advanced technology.

Why should one opt for Senior Living Automation?

For personal independence. With the Senior Living Automation, they can have complete control over the area of living. Also it helps them during an emergency.

How do Automation Solutions help them?

With old age, the lifestyle also changes. Some people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, some show absent mindedness, loss of hearing, etc. These are the times when they require someone to attend to them. But given the busy schedules today, people are just in a hurry to rush to work and don’t have time even for themselves. Leave aside the parents. If they are hale and hearty, there is nothing to worry but the problem arises when they suffer from diseases. With no one to tend to them, their security becomes risky.

Even if you employ someone to look after them, you are under constant worry of their security. This is the time when technology comes to the rescue.

You could opt for the various automation solutions meant for safety and convenience of the elderly. They are user friendly and provide you with a sense of security.

Products dealing with automation solutions are mentioned below:

·         Remote Control

·         Safety Sensors

·         Centralized Call and Safety Monitoring System

·         Facility Management System

·         IP Camera

IP Cameras installed in the room enables the senior citizens to:

·         See who is at the front door without having to get up and check.

·         Converse with the person at the front door and provide remote access to enter the room without actually getting up to open the door.

·         Contact the concerned person in case of an emergency if the visitor happens to be a criminal, thief, etc.

Call buttons are solutions which can be used during an emergency. It is a device which can be carried along and can be pressed in case of an emergency. Pressing it would ring an alarm and the person would be attended with help or assistance immediately.

Automation solutions have become a trend now as it becomes easier for people to keep a watch on their loved ones and also ensure their safety.

Some parents wish to age at home ruling out the possibility of going to a nursing home. And to give in to their wishes and making it easier for them to live independently, turning to automation solutions prove to be the best option. This would make them feel independent and confident.

These solutions can also be operated through a smartphone or a tablet via a Smart App. This makes it all the more easier to operate devices remotely.

One of Mumbai’s leading companies, BuildTrack has been into the automation business for quite a long time now. It provides Senior Living Automation with customized features. To know more please visit http://www.buildtrack.in/.

Automation Solutions replace Caregivers in Hospitals

The article speaks about hospital automation. It gives out perspective of the patient’s family member and how technology impacts an individual. It also shows the influence, technology can have on one’s life.

I was nervous. My grandmother had a minor heart attack. I took her and rushed to the hospital. Things were a bit difficult for me as I was handling everything all alone. She is my only family. I was still when she fell down. The incident left me clueless. I rang up the ambulance immediately. They came in some time and took her to the hospital.

The next thing that bothered me was, who is there to take care of her when I would be running around to buy her medicines and stuff. She was then admitted to the hospital. While she lay on the hospital bed, I was sitting there worried about how to manage things.

After a while, someone came and gave me a remote like thing. I was already worried; this remote just left me wondering. I first though it was a remote control for the air conditioner. But a closer look and I found out that it had various buttons for panic, light, fan, call, etc. Then a nurse came and explained me its functionality. I was amazed. For a moment, I was relieved. I could not believe when I heard that a Remote Control could do so many things.

The nurse explained me that they had automated solutions for the entire hospital. Every room in the hospital was automated and to keep a check on the functioning of the same, they had a centralized system wherein they could check the status of each room in the hospital.

What I realized is that the Hospital Automation Solution had replaced our traditional caregivers. We have limitations with caregivers, but with these automation solutions, we can have things work for us on a remote control. Also it leads to decreased dependency. I was assured that my grandma was getting the best treatment and also the best of technology.

Grandma was brought out from the doctor’s room. They said she needed to be under observation. She had to take bed rest for some days. How was she going to get rest? She always lingers around the house for each and every thing. For switching off the lights, to close the curtains, etc. It does happen that I need the AC on while I am in the room and when I am asleep; she gets up and switches it off. Given her age, how can she be relaxed? To this, the doctor suggested that I keep her in the hospital for some time. I thought that would be a wise decision. She would be fine here I thought. There would be caregivers to take care of her.

Ten minutes in the room and I contradicted myself. There was no necessity of a caregiver. The lights could be turned On/Off, curtains/blinds could be opened/closed, AC’s temperature could be adjusted, and all this and more could be done only at the touch of a button. She need not get up for anything. If she wanted a nurse to attend to her, she could just press the “call” button on the remote and immediate help would be provided. In case of an emergency, she was advised to press the “panic” button to which they would immediately respond. There was a Centralized Patient Call Monitoring system for the nursing staff which provided them with the information of the patients. They could get information such as, the time the call button was used, which patient needs attention, etc. The best thing about this system was that it could be accessed through a Smart App on a Smartphone or a Tablet which increases the responsiveness of the nursing staff even while on the go!

I thought that if I could get this technology at my place that would solve half of my problems. I can’t be with my grandma all the time, so I always used to be worried about her. I used to think, how will she manage things, why does she have to get up every now and then to operate the electrical devices? I am relieved now. I spoke to the doctor and told that I would like to have the same technology that they had in their hospital for my home. Further enquiry led me to know that these products were a part of an automation solution provided by BuildTrack. They provide automation solutions for various industries such as home, hotel, hospital, office, etc.

Now, the first thing that I am going to do after I go home is to contact BuildTrack and get my house done according to their technology. This visit to the hospital really changed my life for the better.

Decrease your electric bill by opting for Home Automation

Global Warming and price rise are the two hot topics these days. In this busy schedule, what worries me is the rising expense at home. I found the electricity bill that was in my post box the other day and was surprised at the charges. It just seems to increase and is not the other way around.

Summer is on and how! It is nearly impossible to sit in a room without switching on an AC or a fan and I had to pay a heavy price for it. Now I am left with an exorbitant electric bill. These things ought to happen with everybody but we all are left with the same question, what is the solution?

Coincidentally, I had a friend of mine come over to my place for a stay at night and looking at me, he thought I was crazy. Every now and then I was checking the lights, the gas knob, the AC, etc. I was habituated to this because of the bill I got the previous month. He at last asked me, what’s going on buddy? I explained him my worry. To this he replied, if you would have shared this earlier, you would be relieved by now. I didn’t quite get him.

He began his part of the story. He told me that he was in the same situation before. With electricity bills adding up to his monthly finances, he had a tough time to deal with it. Then he decided to research and found out companies which provided automation services for electrical devices at home. What was the benefit of these automation solutions? To start with, there are a variety of products in the market which could be used for one’s luxury and comfort. These products used the latest technology and were aimed for conservation of energy. As he had already researched, I asked him to suggest a company which provided these products. He suggested BuildTrack. He got his Home Automation Solution done from them.

I checked the company on Google and found out information about the products it provided. I found out that they sell products individually and also as a part of a package. I requested a quote from them and they were prompt enough to revert back to me.

They had various products of which one of them was the Remote Control (EzRemote) meant for controlling the functioning of electrical devices. The lights, fans, air conditioners and even curtains could be operated through the remote control. This meant less manual work. Motion Sensors (EzSense) which could control lights and other electrical devices based on the motion sensed. Thus leading in conservation of energy by turning off electrical devices automatically when not in use. BuildTrack also offers lot of other products which are beneficial for residential use.

After thorough research, I was relieved. I had finally found the solution. Further enquiry with BuildTrack led me to believe that going for the home automation solution would be the best option as it was designed keeping the necessities of an ideal home and combined various products for the same.

I got the home automation solution for my home done and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the electricity bill the next month. I rechecked it again and again to confirm whether it was mine. With BuildTrack’s home automation solution, I could reduce my bill up to 30%.

Based on my personal experience, I now suggest BuildTrack to all my friends and relatives.

A Walk Through for Home Automation

The article gives an insight regarding Home Automation and various products associated with it. It explains how we can make the best of home automation and make technology work for us.

Technology today has come a long way. We have progressed by leaps and bounds in terms of technology. So what does today’s generation want? Everything Automated – is the answer. In an age where we prefer smartphones and tablets over desktops, why wouldn’t we demand for automation at home?

Home is the place where we live. Everybody wants to come home after a hard day at work. Today’s lifestyle has become so hectic that we wish to have complete peace while at home. We are so used to working for others that we wish to have something work for us back home. Now we have our domestic help to do all our household chores throughout the day but we can’t have them by us all the time. And we can’t have them to do all the things for us. For e.g. I can’t call the domestic help time and again to open or close the curtains of my room, or to adjust the temperature of my air conditioner. They are not Robots, but human beings who would not take your orders lying down.

BuildTrack provides a solution for this. It offers Home Automation for people who are willing to go an extra mile for luxury and comfort. BuildTrack’s Home Automation is a combination of various products for varied needs. The solutions can be customized to one’s demands.

Home Automation can be defined as, automation that work to increase the Fortification, Security, Luxury,  within a house. BuildTrack offers Home Automation Solutions and is the first company in India to work in-line with existing switches. BuildTrack protocol works on a node that goes behind the switch panel, prohibiting any external wiring or changes and there by communicating to the remotes or smart apps enabling the user to operate the devices remotely. BuildTrack provides Home Automation in two ways:

·         With the use of a Remote Control (EzRemote)

·         Or a Smart App enabling remote operation

The use of Remote Control (EzRemote) or a Smart App doesn’t change the manual operation of the switch, meaning you can use the EzRemote and the Smart App in conjunction to the manual or physical switch.

Below given is a list of products that can be included in Home Automation Solutions. The user can choose from the products to custom build his own Home Automation Solution.

Home Automation Includes:

·         Lighting and Curtain Control

·         Motion Sensors

·         Cameras

·         Security

·         Safety

·         Entertainment

·         Intercoms, etc.

Lighting Control and Curtain Control: The user can control the functioning of light, fan, AC and curtains through a Remote Control (EzRemote), a Smart App or manual switch. Functioning of the electrical devices include turning them On/Off, dimming of lights and controlling the speed of fan and AC. With the curtains, the user can open and close one or multiple window curtains and blinds.

Motion Sensors: The Motion Sensor (EzSense) is based on Passive Infrared (PIR) sensing technology. Installing it, takes away the need to manually switch On/Off the lights. Whenever the sensor senses motion, it turns the lights On and turns if Off when no motion is sensed over a defined period. This helps in conservation of energy as unnecessary power usage is avoided. It is well suited for use in bathrooms, passageways, pantries and kitchens. It is also essential for the elderly as they tend to forget to switch Off the lights often while moving out from a particular area.

The Motion Sensor (EzSense) can have a single sensor controlling multiple devices or vice versa. Wireless options are also available for safety and security purpose. Here the unit called “node” goes behind the switch panel and communicates with the sensor wirelessly which is based on Passive Infrared (PIR) technology. It is best suited for passageways or parking lots. For example, if there is an intruder in these areas, the sensor will sense its presence and send a notification through the Smart App.

Cameras: The IP Camera (EzMonitor) helps in monitoring property or a particular area. The IP Camera (EzMonitor) can be placed anywhere and can connect wirelessly to any existing WiFi to view via Smart App. The user can also tilt or pan the camera or capture a short video. This clip is stored in the cloud for a short period and can be accessed via the App. The live video recording can be manually enabled or can be initiated by a sensor. For example, if there is a smoke or gas leak or intrusion detected, by the sensor the recording would be initiated and the user would be notified via the Smart App.

Safety and Security Sensors: There are various sensors for detection of smoke, gas, intrusion, etc. The sensors are meant for safety purposes, and notify whenever any of these are detected. It either raises an alarm or sends notifications to the concerned person via Smart App.

Intercoms: It is a wireless Video Door Phone used in multi-storied buildings and apartments. It is placed at the lobby of the building for all the visitors and can also be placed at the front door of each apartment. The resident can view and converse with the visitor via the Smart App which operates on a tablet or smartphone. This system is managed through a server.

When the visitor at the lobby presses the door bell, a notification pops up on the tablet or smartphone indicating the arrival. With the Smart App, the user has access to the video and audio and to the front door camera to validate the visitor before opening the door.

The user can also:

·         View the visitor remotely (when not at home)

·         Remotely unlock the door

·         Store videos of front door visitors for checking

Note: To monitor the above activities, you require internet connectivity.

How can I pamper myself during my stay in the hotel?

The below article explains about hotel automation products. Hotels are meant for hospitality and most hotels provide customized services. The wonders automated products can do when used in hotels are discussed below. The automated solutions in hotels definitely attract user’s attention.

Everybody dreams of a life where you live like a king! A life with people around you asking you what you want, catering to every need of yours, etc. Now, you may not have people around you to cater to your needs at every step, but definitely have a replacement you would swear by! Yes. It is the BuildTrack’s Hotel Automation solution.

Unlike most companies who provide hospitality as a service, we choose to differ. We give you the liberty to be in a space of your own. To make things work for you. You heard it right. You can actually make things work for you. Check out how.

BuildTrack’s Hotel Automation is designed to work on both a RemoteControl and a Smart App:

Remotes for Room Control: BuildTrack provides remotes to be used in hotel rooms, to control the functioning of devices such as lights, fans, air-conditioners and curtains. Now you need not get up to find access to the switch, to turn On/Off the devices, just press the desired key on the remote for controlling the devices. The opening and closing of window curtains and blinds is also possible with the remote.

Smart App Based Room Control: For hotels willing to offer more, occupants are provided with an iPad or Android based tablets to control various devices in the room.

Room Service & Concierge Services: Forget the days when you would pick up the phone, dial a number and ask for any service. Now, with the help of the Smart App, you can avail for any service remotely. This is particularly helpful when you are outside your hotel room and want someone to ‘makeup’ the room. In such cases, you can just put up a request via the Smart App and the staff would do the needful.

Safety Monitoring: Smoke sensors placed in every room are monitored for efficient working, to ensure safety of the occupants.

Facility Management System: This is a complete service and asset management system which provides centralized control over various assets. Electrical assets such as generators, pumps or common area lighting can be monitored and controlled centrally with this system. It also serves as a Help Desk and Maintenance Management System which is used to address tasks and asset performance for ensuring proper functioning of the facility

How can patients lead a less dependent life?

This article speaks about the hospital automation products provided in the market. These products are targeted towards the patients, and are meant to make their life simpler. It speaks about the latest automation products in the market and how it has influenced people around. Detailed explanation about the benefits of the product is provided below.

A patient is someone who is not physically very active. To make things convenient for them, BuildTrack has come up with EzRemote. What’s the point if the patients have to get up frequently, to switch On/Off the lights, fans, etc.? They are meant to take rest and not move around for small things. The other option left with them is to have a caretaker. But this would increase their dependence on them and depending on them for every single thing is not feasible.

For instance, a patient may feel a sudden chill and may feel hot the other moment, at such times, you can’t ask the person taking care of you, to frequently cater to your needs. Or it may so happen that the caretaker may not be around. What do you do at that time? Sit in the chilling temperature? But with the introduction of the EzRemote, the patient can now have complete control over all the electrical devices, curtains, etc. The EzRemote enables the patient to operate the devices with a remote. With total control at their fingertips, they become less dependent and more confident.

The patient now need not reach out for the manual switch. They just have to press a button and get what they want.

Features of the EzRemote:

 ·         Can be used with existing switches

 ·         Manual operation of the switch remains unchanged (i.e. you can manually operate the switches too)

 ·         Ability to serve sockets with high loads

 ·         The remotes are designed to be RF controlled hence, you don’t need to point it to the device for operating

Things EzRemote enables you to do:

 ·         Operate electrical devices such as light, fan, AC, via remote control

 ·         Dim the lights and control the speed of fan, AC

What we provide:

 ·         EzRemote with 4 button or 12 button options

 ·         A unit called “node” which goes behind the switch panel allowing you to make no external wiring or changes.

 ·         Mountable holder which can be used on any surface

Please Note:

 ·         You have to be in a specified range for the remote control to operate efficiently

 ·         We provide customized solutions for large orders with quick installation

Surveillance System-The eyes that follow you everywhere

In today’s world where behavior, activity and information are constantly changing, the need for monitoring things has emerged. People now want a detailed log of activities that take place while they are away. Taking this into consideration, BuildTrack has now developed surveillance systems for easy monitoring. It is meant for ensuring safety and security in homes, offices, schools, banks, hospitals, etc. The system helps you to monitor people and property remotely.

Surveillance systems are the need of the hour. People now-a-days are so busy in their hectic schedules, that they are dependent on people right from their domestic help to their watchman. These people may be an inseparable part in many of your lives, but you cannot be completely relieved of everything. A fear of safety still persists.

We employ people to take care of our houses, kids, etc. but how are we supposed to know whether they do their work efficiently? For the same reason, we have come up with surveillance system, which enables you to have a complete watch, over anything you need.

The surveillance system allows to:

•  Monitor the entry and exit of visitors to prevent unwanted trespassers
• Ensure safety of residents from unauthorized visitors by keeping a watch over the corridors and lobby
• Monitor elevators in case of technical issues
•  Keep a watch over children by monitoring them in the play area, thus safeguarding them
• Monitor the parking lots to make sure cars are not stolen or tampered

BuildTrack Surveillance System Includes:

CCTV Cameras: BuildTrack offers a wide range of cameras to monitor various activities. Some of them are mentioned below:

•  Dome Cameras
• IR Cameras
• Hidden Cameras
• Zoom Cameras
• Bullet Cameras
• Long Distance Cameras, etc.

Digital Video Recorders (DVR): This device or application software which records video in a digital format to various devices such as USB flash drive, SD memory card, etc. is available in 4/8/16/32 channels.

The Surveillance System can have more value add, by combining it with safety and security sensors such as Fire sensors, Motion sensors, etc. These sensors inform you about all the events occurring at your place which can be reviewed through the cameras.