Re: Idea for Cheap Alarm System

["Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@xxxxxxxxx>]

AZ Woody <reply@here> wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> AZ Woody <reply@here> wrote
>>> Robert L Bass wrote
>>>> Rod Speed wrote

>>>>> I think those systems that are designed for the elderly should also have some mechanism to
>>>>> detect movement and alarm if there is no
>>>>> movement for a specified time between particular nominated times,
>>>>> so that if the individual does die or is unconscious, the system will alarm then too.
>>>>> Obviously the time between detected movements is different at night and day and in the bedroom
>>>>> and the rest of the house etc.

>>>> The ELK-M1G home automation system can do all that.

>>> The last place my Dad lived (independent/assisted living) had a switch he had to hit each day.
>>> It was a pull chain thing on the wall in the bedroom.

>> That isnt going to alarm as quickly, and suffers from
>> the problem that its easy to forget to pull the chain.

>> Even a warning that the chain hasnt been pulled isnt going to alarm as quickly.

>>> If "on the cheap" is the whole theme of this thread, I can imagine a
>>> simple timer circuit (a one shot with a duration of say 30-36 hours). It's "reset" by the person
>>> each day (like my dad and the pull chain), but if the timer goes off, the alarm is triggered.
>>> There probably
>>> needs to be a simple disable, in the event that the person will be
>>> gone for a couple days.

>> And it needs a pre alarm warning that the alarm is about to go off too.

> Thing is, a "daily status" is probably good for most folks that are
> still independent.  If not, maybe they shouldn't be independent!

It makes more sense to integrate all this stuff into the
alarm most choose to have, and do a lot more than just
daily status with everyone, particularly those who choose
to live alone when its so cheap to add to an alarm.

> The think I know from my dad, and other people in that age group, is that it's got to be really
> simple.

I've never been convinced about that, it actually needs to be quite intelligent instead.

> Pre-warning buzzers and flashing lights will just get them PO'd.

Cant agree with that at all. They are likely to get much more pissed
off about the alarm going off and triggering some intervention when
they just forget to pull the chain at the right time of day.

And thats why a more intelligent system that works automatically on
movement is much better than something simple too, you dont even
need to hit the stupid chain daily, or need to pull it when it warns either.

> Let's say "grandpa" forgot to "push the button"..  Worst case, is the kids get a call, and he gets
> a  phone call.

Much better to pull the chain when it warns than to
have to field that call when its just been forgotten.

> Thing is, with a simple timer, it doesn't need to be a "pull chain", but could be a trigger from a
> motion sensor in the bathroom.  If they don't take a pee in 6-24 hours, there's a problem!

Sure, and that is what I proposed originally.