It wasn’t long ago that the mere thought of a
‘smart home’ conjured up images, reminiscent of a science fiction novel. Today,
smart technology has infiltrated our homes in countless ways, making them more accessible and
safer, especially for approximately 20% of American women who are living with a
disability. It is important for women in wheelchairs to make their
homes accessible, in order to remain as independent, as possible. Achieving
such a level of accessibility, is becoming increasingly
easier, thanks to smart home technologies that makes it significantly more
attainable to make any dwelling substantially more accessible.
Smart Speakers
The popular Alexa and Google Home smart speakers,
have become technology that has revolutionized life at home! These voice
activated devices can perform essential tasks such as ordering groceries,
turning lights on and off, even adjusting a programmable thermostat. At a
reasonable price considering the benefits, they can provide an unbelievable
amount of independence.
Smart locks, smart doorbells, and
fully-integrated smart home security systems are making homes across the USA,
safer than ever before. A smart lock is considered to be a better alternative to a keypad,
especially if you need to give various people varying degrees of access to your
home. A smart lock which utilizes a user’s smartphone as a key, pairs very well
with a smart doorbell, which will allow a wheelchair user to view exactly who
is approaching the door, via an app on a cellphone. A
fully-integrated safety system, will generally couple a smart lock and doorbell
with a set of surveillance cameras which can be accessed remotely, always
allowing a wheelchair user a full view of the perimeter and interior of the
home.
Mundane tasks made easy
When you spend the majority of your time in a
wheelchair, it is often the small, every-day tasks that are the most difficult
to accomplish. Things as simple as opening and closing your blinds or making a
cup of coffee, can be very testing at times. Smart window coverings that can be
operated either via a remote or a smartphone app makes it easy for a wheelchair
user to open and close curtains, blinds, and shades literally at the touch of a
button.
Making coffee should
never be a schlepp
Getting out of bed in the morning is never an
easy feat, unless you have a freshly-brewed cup of coffee waiting for
you. There are a range of smart coffee makers on the market that can be
programmed in such a manner to ensure that you start your day, in the right way
– with a cup of hot coffee. Even in a kitchen that is fully-accessible, it can
be quite difficult to maneuver between the sink, the kettle, the kitchen
cabinet where your coffee and sugar are kept, and the fridge. Investing in a
smart coffee maker will end up saving you a lot of time and frustration, at the
end of the day.
Most of us have heard of robotic vacuuming but
maybe not the latest mind-blowing features that are now available to the mainstream
market. These technological helpers have intelligent sensors to navigate around
and under furniture, suctioning up dust, dirt and hair, not to mention, even
knows when to return to its docking station, to recharge the batteries. Complete
with wi-fi technology, it can be operated and programmed through your smart
phone or activated through Alexa and Google Assistant. If you really want to be
involved, some robotic vacuums come with a built-in camera, enabling you to see
in “real-time”, what it sees, all while controlling it’s movement from an app
on your smart phone!
Mopping can also be a frustrating, awkward,
labor intensive task, especially while propelling a wheelchair but now you can
relinquish this daunting chore to robotic mop! They generally come with reservoirs that you need to fill
up with water and/or cleaning solution, and microfiber cloths that scrub your
floors to pick up dirt. There are single purpose robotic mops that can
dry sweep your floor first then mop or the hybrids that can execute both the
vacuuming and mopping!
These are just a few of the many possibilities for
smart home technology and more and more options are becoming available every
day; truly is thrilling for mobileWOMEN, who cherish their independence. By
investing in smart gadgets such as those mentioned above, safe convenience is
never more than a few button presses or voice commands away.
About the Author:
Lucy Lawrence, whose sister uses a wheelchair for mobility, is a professional
freelance writer with many years of experience. While she writes about a wide
variety of sectors and topics, she feels particularly strongly about the needs
of those who live their lives in difficult or challenging circumstances due to
illness and injury.
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