I have searched for anything similar and failed to come up with anything. If however you can direct me to a link I'd really appreciate it...
My 95 year old father in law, who continues to live on his own in his own home (albeit with our support) has virtually no vision now. At his time of life he also finds it very difficult indeed to learn new things.
He can no longer see any kind of thermostat. We've tried all the large display versions. Some he can kind of see but he simply cannot grasp their control. I have raspberry pi lying around so I thought about constructing something very 'simple' for him to use that could perhaps form the basis of an add on board for others to benefit from too. In my book older people deserve support and do not deserve to be isolated or ripped off.
My concept is this. A standalone box with two buttons (perhaps one backlit blue & one back lit yellow so partially sighted colourblind people can use it) and a speaker.
It would work thus:
- press any button for less than 3 seconds and the current temperature is read out
- press any button for more than three seconds and it is announced that you are in temp change mode. It will also explain that further presses of either button take the temp up or down 1 deg C. At each press of a button the new set point is announced.
- leave the new set point for 5 seconds and it announces the new set point
The system would need to also have a continuous setting and a timed setting along with a set back temperature so not too much energy is wasted during sleeping hours.
The 'voice' recording need to be a family member so it is familiar and comforting.
I'm more than aware that the simplicity at the user level requires a lot working behind it so where do I start? Please?
I do want this to be something EVERYONE can access for their family.
Thank you in advance
My 95 year old father in law, who continues to live on his own in his own home (albeit with our support) has virtually no vision now. At his time of life he also finds it very difficult indeed to learn new things.
He can no longer see any kind of thermostat. We've tried all the large display versions. Some he can kind of see but he simply cannot grasp their control. I have raspberry pi lying around so I thought about constructing something very 'simple' for him to use that could perhaps form the basis of an add on board for others to benefit from too. In my book older people deserve support and do not deserve to be isolated or ripped off.
My concept is this. A standalone box with two buttons (perhaps one backlit blue & one back lit yellow so partially sighted colourblind people can use it) and a speaker.
It would work thus:
- press any button for less than 3 seconds and the current temperature is read out
- press any button for more than three seconds and it is announced that you are in temp change mode. It will also explain that further presses of either button take the temp up or down 1 deg C. At each press of a button the new set point is announced.
- leave the new set point for 5 seconds and it announces the new set point
The system would need to also have a continuous setting and a timed setting along with a set back temperature so not too much energy is wasted during sleeping hours.
The 'voice' recording need to be a family member so it is familiar and comforting.
I'm more than aware that the simplicity at the user level requires a lot working behind it so where do I start? Please?
I do want this to be something EVERYONE can access for their family.
Thank you in advance