A house showcasing a range of assistive technology that can be used to support vulnerable adults to increase their independence has opened its doors in Liverpool.

The mobile, purpose built Smarthouse, created by the Hft, the national learning disabilities charity, is on display at Aintree Racecourse as part of the newly launched Peter O’Sullevan Community Hub which will be the focal point of Aintree’s Community Programme.

It marks the start of a year-long partnership between Hft and Aintree Racecourse aimed at raising the profile of the work the charity does to support adults with learning disabilities, in particular its work using personalised technology – all of which is funded by charitable donations.

Over the next 12 months, visitors to Aintree will be able to visit the Smarthouse and experience an interactive demonstration of the types of technology used by Hft to help the people they support to live the best life possible, in a ‘real-life’ setting.  Gadgets include a telephone with a picture dialling-system, a talking microwave, safety sensors to prevent flooding or injury and fingerprint locks and video-entry systems which replace the need for keys.

Emma Sambrook, Hft’s Director of Fundraising said: 

“We are delighted to be partnering with such a prestigious organisation as Aintree Racecourse and are looking forward to working together on a range of exciting opportunities.

“We believe everyone has the right to live the life they choose, and people with learning disabilities are no exception.  They face obstacles that are hard to imagine.  We raise funds to pay for charitable projects like personalised technology, so the people we support have a chance to live life on their own terms.

“Having the Smarthouse on display is great opportunity for people to find out more about the work Hft does and see how vital fundraising is to support people to live with more confidence and dignity.”

Grant Rowley, Jockey Club’s NW Communications Manager, said:

“We’re delighted to partner with Hft – a fantastic charity that does such great work for people with learning disabilities.

“We’re thrilled to have launched our new Peter O’Sullevan Hub at Aintree recently – a great on site facility that will be the focal point of all of Aintree’s community outreach work and which is designed to be a fun and engaging educational environment for all ages and abilities. Hft’s Smarthouse is an excellent addition to this and we look forward to working with the team over the next 12 months.”

To find out more about Hft and the work that it does visit www.hft.org.uk.

Blackwood has earned a reputation for its highly creative and engaging yearly showcases, which feature life-changing technology and innovative displays.

Now, it has delivered again by focusing on the social aspect of its work – and turning its AGM into an interactive “tea and technology” event, which allowed remote users to join in from all across Scotland, with some even taking part from the comfort of their own living room.

One such customer was David Grant, from Dundee, who was delivered a special afternoon tea at his home while joining the AGM via CleverCogs – Blackwood’s state-of-the-art system of connected touch screen devices which can influence almost everything in a house from opening curtains to planning care and support with family and friends.

Fanchea Kelly, Chief Executive at Blackwood, said: “We have had great success over the past two years, with our highly interactive events featuring everything from bionic arms and robot exoskeletons to the construction of a full scale, walk-through replica of our concept house.

“This year, we wanted our meeting to be more people-focused as our customers are at the heart of everything we do. The focal point of all our technology is to improve disabled people’s lives every single day and improve independent living.

“We always strive to create an ‘AGM with a difference’ and we’re delighted to now have 3 years’ experience of delivering unique and ambitious events.

“All of our concepts are tested by customers at Blackwood who give valuable feedback on how the design can be improved, which helps ensure that they are as effective as possible and that there is a constant challenge to evolve.

“This is co-design in practice and we are most interested in the feedback we get from customers and from fellow professionals.”

Customers came together from Ayr, Stirling, Aberdeen and Dundee and, alongside Blackwood employees, were treated to some of the latest pioneering technology. Especially positive feedback was given to the housing and care provider’s new app The Huburbs – a Sims-style video game which challenges the user to manage a virtual housing development and build the best possible living environment and neighbourhood for their customers.

Fanchea added: “It’s a very exciting time for us with the launch of our Blackwood House in Dundee this year, and the integration of CleverCogs.

“We very much pride ourselves on being at the forefront of the housing and care sector, but to remain there, it’s vital that we listen to the ever evolving needs of our service-users to help shape our future. We believe that being able to connect our customers with this year’s live broadcast AGM provided the perfect platform to do just that.”

Blackwood has more than 1500 homes throughout the country designed with the latest in bespoke features to help those who are disabled, elderly or with sensory impairments to live more independently.

This includes a range of adaptations from minor alterations such as lowering thresholds between rooms for easier wheelchair access, fitting grab rails and installing easy-to-use lever taps. Bigger projects can include installing wet rooms, level access showers and ‘rise and fall kitchens’ to improve the quality of life of its customers.

As it works in 29 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, it is more widely dispersed than most other care or housing providers and has embraced the challenges of taking housing and care into innovative areas at a time when funding is increasingly limited.

It is renowned for constantly pushing the boundaries of technology to allow property adaptations which make a huge difference to people with disabilities.

National charity Hft is using connected care solutions from Tunstall to enhance the lives of people living with learning disabilities.

Hft, a national charity aiming to give people with learning disabilities the opportunity to live the best life possible, is working with Tunstall Healthcare to provide the people it supports with personalised technology solutions that allow them to live more independent, safe and healthy lives.

The charity, whose services range from residential care to supported living at home, is giving people the chance to live more securely and independently. By putting the person at the centre, Hft works with them to establish their needs and goals and then create personalised technology solutions to help them live the life they choose.

A survey of the people Hft supports conducted last year showed the positive effect of personalised technology, with over 80% of respondents who have access to technology saying it helped them to feel safer; two thirds felt it meant they could live more independently.

A range of solutions are available, from safer bath plugs to comprehensive connected care systems, including telecare and environmental controls. Devices such as door sensors, epilepsy sensors and fall detectors can enable independent living by managing risks and ensuring support is accessible if required but are unobtrusive when it is not.

Steve Barnard, Strategic Director of Innovation at Hft said:

“Personalised technology can have a huge impact on the lives of people with learning disabilities, allowing them to live independently and have control over their lives. At Hft we believe in putting the person we support at the heart of everything we do, and technology is one of the ways we can help people enjoy new levels of independence, while helping to keep them safe.”

Kevin Alderson, UK Sales and Marketing Director at Tunstall said:

“Hft is a progressive and pioneering organisation that is realising the potential of technology to support individuals to live the best life possible, whatever that means for them.”

This year’s Summer of Sport is approaching fast, Invictus Games, FA Cup Final, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Euro 2016, Wimbledon, French & US Open, Tour de France, America’s Cup, the Olympics and the Rugby League Cup Final.

What ever your favourite sport, its not great if you can’t hear what’s going on!

There are more than 11 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss, or one 1 in 6 of the population, including over 3.5 million people who wear hearing aids, all of whom can benefit from using Assistive Technology products, and enjoy this year’s sporting events.

For people with hearing loss just turning the volume button up isn’t necessarily loud enough and often upsets others in the room.  With the aid of Assistive Technology, sound can be amplified to very loud volumes either in the room, direct to the ears, via Bluetooth or a loop system, whether it’s from TV, radio or Smartphone.

National stations such as Talk Sport or BBC Radio 5 Live broadcasts live commentary of popular sports and with Assistive Technology, the sound from a radio can be significantly increased using a sound amplifier and, it’s the same if you’re watching the TV.  However, if you’re watching the TV at a standard volume, with others in the room, you might want to consider a personal amplifier that won’t affect the volume for everyone else.

With the aid of specially designed headphones, volume can be increased to a personal preference level without affecting other people around you.  There are many solutions depending on your needs.  If you wear hearing aids you might want to consider a Bluetooth or Loop system that transmits the amplified volume direct to your hearing aids. Tone control included with these devices helps boosting high frequency sounds making speech far more intelligible.

Amplicomms BTH 1400 Bluetooth Headset & BTH 1410-NL Bluetooth Neckloop

There is also the option for wearing over-the-ear or in ear headphones.  Some sets have individual controls so sounds can be adjusted for each ear or feature a close proximity microphone that will ensure you can be a part of conversations going on in the room.

Another option, if you are listening on your own or want portability to listen in the garden etc., is a sound amplifier that has a base connected directly to the sound source transmitting the sound to a portable sound system that acts as a boom box.

One company, amplicomms, who specialise in assistive technology, is running a summer promotion on a variety of products and we’ve taken a look at a few of them, to help you make the right choices.

The amplicomms Bluetooth products will amplify sound from any Bluetooth enabled device up to 120dB’s using either a wireless headset, the BTH1400, or a neck loop system the BTH1410 NL, for people with hearing aids or cochlear implants using the T Coil setting.  This also features a built-in microphone for close proximity conversations.

The TV SoundBox is a portable wireless speaker, so great for the garden; it will bring sounds up close to you and amplify the volume up to 120dB’s, 30 metres away from the sound source.

The HS100 are over the ear headphones for mild to moderate hearing loss with separate volume controls for the right and left sides for fully balanced sound and have been reduced by 50% for a real summer bargain at only £14.99.

The TV150 allows maneuverability and comfort, as it sits around the neck for wireless listening via the TV, HiFi, IPod/iPhone or CD players.  It has automatic volume control that eliminates sudden loud noises from the likes of adverts, which can unexpectedly increase the TV volume often causing ear stress.

The TV2500 is the top of the range stethoscope-style Wireless Listener with top quality Stereo sound and a sensitive built in microphone, so you have the option to join in conversations around the room, www.hearingdirect.com/Wireless-TV-Listeners.

So, if you want to be a part of the Summer of Sport and listen to commentary in clarity, check out which assistive technology is best for you and be a part of the excitement, whether in your own home or in a crowd of excited fans.

The products mentioned are all available from: www.hearingdirect.com or Tel: 0800 032 1301

Direct product links:

Amplicomms BTH 1400 Bluetooth Headset: http://www.hearingdirect.com/amplicomms-bth-1400.html 

Amplicomms BTH 1410-NL Bluetooth Neckloop: http://www.hearingdirect.com/amplicomms-bth-1410-nl.html 

Amplicomms TV Soundbox: http://www.hearingdirect.com/amplicomms-tv-soundbox-wireless-tv-amplifying-speakers.html 

Amplicomms TV 150 Wireless Listener: http://www.hearingdirect.com/amplicomms-tv-150-wireless-tv-listener.html

Amplicomms TV 2500 Wireless Listener: http://www.hearingdirect.com/amplicomms-tv-2500-wireless-tv-listener.html

A wheelchair user has spoken of the transformative experience of using a specially designed wheelchair to enable him to play golf standing upright for the first time.

Peter McWilliams, a tenant at Blackwood’s Belses Gardens care home in Glasgow, attended the official launch of the Paragolfer at Mearns Castle Golf Academy, where he had the opportunity to test the innovative machine.

Powerfully built to safely access the green, the Paragolfer mechanically raises the disabled user from a sitting to a standing position, enabling them to play their swing with ease. The creative machine has been designed by international Paragolfer, Anthony Netto, and is one of only two which are currently publicly accessible in Scotland.

 
Anthony, who is also the founder of the Stand Up and Play Foundation, was on hand on the day of the launch to provide Peter with expert tips and ensure he made the most of his first ever golfing experience.

Peter McWilliams said: “I often follow the golf when it’s on the TV and it’s a sport I’ve     always been very keen to try, but have never had the chance – until now.

“I was one of the first people at the launch to transfer into the Paragolfer, which was very exciting. It’s a fantastic machine and very easy to use and, with some tips from Anthony, I was hitting golf balls down the fairway in no time.

“Being able to stand up and play golf is something I never thought I’d experience, so I’m very grateful to Blackwood, and of course Anthony and his Paragolfer, for giving me this incredible opportunity. I would definitely recommend it to any disabled individual who is keen to try their hand at the sport.”

Paul Richoux, Social Media Coordinator at Blackwood, said: “At Blackwood, we have always been about applying the latest innovations – we have an entire department dedicated to this – so the Paragolfer is of great interest to us and our customers.

“We have a very clear intent to put technology at the heart of everything we do, so it was fantastic to be invited along to the launch and discover how this machine can help those with impaired mobility have the opportunity to participate in sporting events.

“It was great to see Peter given the opportunity to play golf for the first time and he very much enjoyed himself. We will definitely be looking to offer this same opportunity to our other customers, as it ties in nicely with Blackwood’s innovative way of thinking.”

Since it was launched 40 years ago, Blackwood has built an impressive reputation for its expertise in adapting properties to let people with disabilities, sensory impairments and age-related conditions to live as independently as possible.

Blackwood’s technology and innovation division’s main focus is to identify, support and help develop the latest design and technology which can help those with disabilities live their lives to the full.

Team Gray Matter approached the law firm’s head office in Sheffield with a view to obtaining sponsorship, for Peter Gray, a 31-year-old man from Doncaster, who was paralysed from the neck down back in 2008 following  a ‘freak accident’ during a family holiday in the Dominican. Peter is now tetraplegic meaning he suffered total paralysis to his torso and limbs.

Ivan Nixon, team leader, creator of Team Gray Matter, and long-time friend of Peter has been the drive behind the project. Over the last few years, Ivan and other friends have visited Peter and tried introducing him to a number of different technologies which would help support Peter and his family, when one day, they came across some information on the internet regarding Cybathlon 2016.

This is where the journey to getting Peters life back on track really started. After contacting many leading authorities across the globe, Peters story and ambition to enter Cybathlon 2016 gained momentum.  Now, in May of 2015, as part of a non-profit project and with a great team and network of supporting organisations, Peter is registered as a pilot in the first ever Brain Computer Interface (BCI) Race at Cybathlon 2016. The training process is already under way and the team has welcomed its Technology Leader, Dr. Rolando Grave de Peralra Menendez for his visit from Geneva during May as part of the development process for the BCI device. 

The five-figure sponsorship deal from Irwin Mitchell will allow Team Gray Matter to build upon its growing team, to develop and test the technologies that Pete requires and to assist with the teams transport across the globe.

Father of one, Peter, said “‘The last eight years for me have provided agony, heartache and I’ve had to overcome many obstacles that life has presented. I’ve been very fortunate to have the love and care of many family members and close friends, but to an equal extent, I have also lost many passions and hobbies and many relationships have broken down as a result of my situation.

“When we first discovered news of a championships for athletes full of high-tech disciplines that included one for people with my level of paralysis, I was highly intrigued and agreed to let Ivan run with it and see what would happen, although the idea of it leading anywhere soon left my mind.“

“As the weeks went by, things started to develop and gather momentum very quickly and we even had interest from organisations on three different continents!“

“Now I am registered to take part in the games and thanks to Team Gray Matter and now Irwin Mitchell, the original thoughts, the original ideas, ambitions and dreams that I have can hopefully be achieved. It’s great to realise that there are businesses out there willing to support you, to support athletes who have had to overcome adversity to achieve their goals.

“The road is still a long one but the journey is now possible and we can start to meet with our technology partners to start testing the equipment I need.”

Louise Jenkins, a specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell commented: “We see the difficulties that people with disabilities face on a daily basis just in their everyday lives, so for Peter and his team to be taking on the Cybathlon is a real inspiration to others. We are delighted to be able to sponsor Team Gray Matter and hope that by doing so it raises awareness of what can be achieved with hard work, dedication and the support of specialists. Not everyone wants to take part in elite sports or championship races, but Peter is proof that whatever your goal, there should be nothing stopping you from having ambition.“

For those unaware of Cybathlon, it is a championship for racing pilots with disabilities (i.e. athletes) who are using advanced assistive devices including robotic technologies. The competitions are comprised by different disciplines that apply the most modern powered knee prostheses, wearable arm prostheses, powered exoskeletons, powered wheelchairs, electrically stimulated muscles and novel brain-computer interfaces. The assistive devices can include commercially available products provided by companies, but also prototypes developed by research labs.

There will be two medals for each competition, one for the pilot, who is driving the device, and one for the provider of the device. The event is organised on behalf of the Swiss National Competence Center of Research in Robotics (NCCR Robotics).

The main goal of the Cybathlon is to provide a platform for the development of novel assistive technologies that are useful for daily life. Through the organisation of the Cybathlon, it wants to help remove barriers between the public, people with disabilities and science.

The rehearsals for the Cybathlon games are set for July of this year and The Championship for Robot-Assisted athletes will take place at Kolping Arena, Kloten, Zurich, Switzerland, 8 October 2016

For more information about Cybathlon 2016 visit http://www.cybathlon.ethz.ch

Brits are progressively spending more time by themselves. In the last census 7.6m people were recorded as living alone: by 2031, this figure is expected to top 10.9m. A survey of UK adults by Acticheck, creators of the Assure, a ‘Fit & Forget’ smartband, has revealed UK adults spend a quarter of each weekday completely on their own. Those aged between 50-69 and those living in London spend the most time on their own (both spend an average of 7 hours alone each weekday). But the UK’s living situation isn’t the only cause; more than 6m people work alone or in isolation and solo sports like cycling (43% of people now own a bike²) are increasingly popular. While ‘me-time’ has psychological benefits it is also increases the nation’s personal risk factor.

What happens if a person suffers a fall while on their own? Receiving assistance immediately after an immobilising fall improves the chance of survival by 80%³ yet most alarms rely on the wearer pushing a button (impossible if the wearer is incapacitated). The founders of Acticheck have the solution to help give peace of mind; the Assure: the world’s first continuously monitoring personal alert system.  The band launched today (Tues 27^th Jan, 2015) on Kickstarter, to help raise the final funds to develop the much-needed accompanying app to enable them to take the Acticheck Assure system out of the home and potentially save lives.

 Kickstarter backers can benefit from a range of rewards. While backers offering £100 will get the product before it goes on general release, those feeling a little wicked can spend £750 and challenge the founders to do ANYTHING they want – as long as it’s legal! Evidence of their actions – no matter how embarrassing – will be delivered in video format.

 Due to its ground-breaking battery management technology, the Assure has a two year battery life and never needs recharging. It’s also waterproof and shockproof so the sleek, attractive band can be worn at all times – even in the shower.

 How it works:

·         Continuously monitors the wearer, granting them complete independence. The band sends a pro-active alert to nominated persons in the event of an accident or health concern

·         Features a mix of reactive and proactive trigger types, unlike comparative technologies

·         Keeps track on the wearer’s location using the GPS functionality of a smartphone. Should they experience an accident while out alone, they can be found and given help, fast

Acticheck’s founder, Karl Gibbs, says: “We were keen to help people celebrate their independence by providing a technology that, unlike pendant alarms for example, can be used anywhere at anytime, in the home or outdoors. What we’ve done is create a wearable technology, suitable for anyone, that breaks boundaries in terms of battery life, alert functionality and usability – we’re hoping the Kickstarter community loves it as much as we do.”

To be one of the first to get your hands on the Acticheck Assure and support the development of this potentially life-saving technology visit our KICKSTARTER PAGE